This provision transfers $625,000 SEG from the all-terrain vehicle account of the conservation fund to the general fund.
I am vetoing this provision because the transfer would reduce funding available for all-terrain vehicle projects and could result in an increase in the registration fee for these vehicles. All-terrain vehicle projects are fully funded by all-terrain vehicle account revenues, and the proposed transfer would limit the resources available for these projects.
55. McDill Lake District Funding
Section 9136 (9d)
This provision allocates $250,000 from the recreational boating facilities aids to the McDill Inland Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District for the dredging of McDill Lake. The provision also specifies that the allocated funds would be subtracted from the aids appropriation before the statutory allocation of funding between Great Lakes and inland waters projects is calculated.
I am partially vetoing this provision to require that the allocated funds be subtracted after the split is calculated. The decision of the Legislature to fund a particular inland lake project should not negatively impact Great Lakes projects.
56. Recreational Grant Earmarks
Sections 671m [as it relates to s. 23.197 (2m)] and 9136 (9s)
These provisions earmark funding for development of a recreational corridor and an erosion control study. Section 671m [as it relates to s. 23.197 (2m)] provides up to $100,000 from the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program for a grant to the City of Janesville for development of the Rock River recreational corridor. Section 9136 (9s) earmarks $50,000 from recreational boating facilities aids for a grant to Kenosha County for an erosion control study at Kemper Center.
I am partially vetoing section 671m [as it relates to s. 23.197 (2m)] to remove the earmark of funding for the Rock River recreational corridor. The earmark of funding for this project is excessive. Under the budget bill, the City of Janesville will receive a separate grant of $350,000 from recreational boating facilities aids for development of a riverfront parkway. I am vetoing section 9136 (9s) because it undermines the authority of the Waterways Commission to decide which studies should be conducted. Under current law, the commission is authorized to cause studies to be conducted and to spend its monies directly to complete such studies.
57. Rib Mountain Chalet
Section 671m [as it relates to s. 23.197 (3m)]
This section creates several specific Stewardship Program projects, including rebuilding the chalet at Rib Mountain State Park. The chalet project would be funded with $500,000 from the property development component of either the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship Program or the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program.
I am partially vetoing this provision to reduce the $500,000 funding level to $50,000. Although the chalet may need replacement in the future, $500,000 of funding is excessive at this time. Rib Mountain State Park has been used as a ski hill since 1938 and, given its urban setting and central Wisconsin location, has the potential for a wide variety of recreational uses. I recognize that ski operations, like all businesses, need to change over time and that the current ski operation is becoming less economically viable. Therefore, I request the Department of Natural Resources to evaluate year-round recreational use of the park and make recommendations to maximize park visitor opportunities and allow the ski hill to become a profitable enterprise.
58. Mead Wildlife Area Interpretive Center
Sections 172 [as it relates to s. 20.285 (1) (a)], 633m and 671h
These sections provide bonding authority for the construction of an interpretive center at the Mead Wildlife Area. The bonding authority would be released at a rate of $3 for every $2 of private donations received by the Department of Natural Resources. These sections also provide $12,000 GPR in fiscal year 1999-2000 and $16,000 GPR in fiscal year 2000-2001 for an additional 0.5 FTE GPR position at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UW-Stevens Point) for educational and informational activities at the center. Although there is no language in the budget bill that authorizes this position and funding increase, the purpose of this funding was included in the Joint Committee on Finance's amendment to the bill.
I am vetoing sections 633m and 671h to remove the bonding authority for the construction of the interpretive center because the provisions are unnecessary and infringe on the Department of Natural Resources’ and the Natural Resources Board’s authority to decide which projects, and associated funding, will provide the best recreational and conservation education opportunities for Wisconsin’s residents and visitors. By lining out the University of Wisconsin System’s s. 20.285 (1) (a) appropriation and writing in smaller amounts that delete $12,000 GPR in fiscal year 1999-2000 and $16,000 GPR in fiscal year 2000-2001, which provide funding for 0.5 FTE GPR position, I am vetoing the part of the bill which funds the educational and informational support activities for the center. The UW-Stevens Point received a conservation program coordinator position under a separate Joint Committee on Finance amendment to the bill and that position will be able to provide services to the center after its completion. I am also requesting the Department of Administration secretary not to allot these funds and not to authorize the 0.5 FTE GPR position.
59. Group Deer Hunting
Sections 730h and 730j
These sections allow bow hunters to group hunt for antlerless deer. Group bow hunting for deer would be allowed for the 2000 and 2001 deer hunting seasons.
I am vetoing these sections because the extension of group deer hunting privileges to bow hunters is unnecessary. Bow hunting for deer is traditionally a solitary pursuit. To improve chances of harvesting a deer, bow hunters reduce the number of factors that may alert a deer to their presence, including wearing camouflaged clothing and hunting individually. These factors make group bow hunting for deer unnecessary and a safety concern.
60. Bonus Deer Issuance Fee Effective Date
Section 9436 (9d)
This provision delays the effective date of the issuance fee for bonus deer permits.
I am vetoing this provision because I object to delaying the expansion of the number of locations at which deer hunters may obtain bonus deer permits. This veto allows the Department of Natural Resources to authorize its license sales agents to collect and retain an issuance fee for bonus deer permits issued for the fall 1999 deer hunting season.
61. Position Creations and Reallocation
Sections 172 [as it relates to s. 20.370 (1) (mu), (4) (mu) and (9) (mu)] and 671n
Section 172 [as it relates to s. 20.370 (1) (mu), (4) (mu) and (9) (mu)] provides $82,600 SEG in fiscal year 1999-2000 and $110,000 SEG in fiscal year 2000-2001 for an additional 2.75 FTE SEG positions in the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The positions consist of:
· 1.0 FTE SEG fisheries biologist position for the Ladysmith service center;
· 1.0 FTE SEG wildlife biologist position for Marathon County; and
· 0.75 FTE SEG program assistant position for the Medford ranger station.
Although there is no language in the budget bill that authorizes these increases, the purposes of this funding were included in Joint Committee on Finance and Senate amendments to the bill. Section 671n requires the department to permanently locate a facilities repair worker at the MacKenzie Environmental Center.
By lining out DNR’s appropriations and writing in smaller amounts that delete the following amounts from:
· s. 20.370 (1) (mu), $32,300 SEG in fiscal year 1999-2000 and $43,000 SEG in fiscal year 2000-2001;
· s. 20.370 (4) (mu), $32,300 SEG in fiscal year 1999-2000 and $43,000 SEG in fiscal year 2000-2001; and
· s. 20.370 (9) (mu), $18,000 SEG in fiscal year 1999-2000 and $24,000 SEG in fiscal year 2000-2001,
provided for these purposes, I am vetoing the parts of the bill which fund these 2.75 FTE SEG positions. I am also vetoing section 671n to remove the requirement that DNR locate a facilities repair worker at the MacKenzie Environmental Center on a permanent basis. I object to having the Legislature manage agency programs and reduce departmental flexibility by directing the allocation of staff. To address ongoing concerns regarding facility maintenance at the MacKenzie Center, I request that the department expedite the reallocation of a facilities repair worker to the center. I am also requesting the Department of Administration secretary not to allot the funds and not to authorize the 2.75 FTE SEG positions.
62. Pheasant Game Farm Study
Section 784g
This section requires the Department of Natural Resources to study the impacts of pheasant game farms on wild pheasant populations and submit the results of the study and recommendations to protect and enhance wild populations to the Legislature by October 1, 2000.
I am vetoing this section because it is unnecessary. The department manages wild pheasant populations and monitors changes to these populations. If wild pheasant populations are declining, DNR has the authority to study the relationship between game farms and wild populations.
63. St. Croix Scenic Development
Section 9136 (11d)
This provision provides $10,000 SEG in fiscal year 1999-2000 for an urban forestry grant to the City of Hudson for scenic development along the St. Croix River adjacent to a wastewater treatment plant.
I am vetoing this provision because it sets an undesirable precedent by expanding the use of the urban forestry grant program to a project that does not relate to tree management or education. I also object to the waiver of the required 50% match. Therefore, I am vetoing this provision and requesting the Department of Administration secretary to place $10,000 into unallotted reserve in fiscal year 1999-2000 in appropriation s. 20.370 (5) (bw) to lapse to the conservation fund.
64. Federal Excess Personal Property Program
Section 172 [as it relates to s. 20.370 (1) (mu)]
Section 172 [as it relates to s. 20.370 (1) (mu)] provides $224,400 SEG annually to support the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) involvement in the Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) program. Although there is no language in the budget bill that authorizes this increase, the purpose of this funding was included in the Conference Committee amendment to the bill.
By lining out DNR’s s. 20.370 (1) (mu) appropriation and writing in smaller amounts that delete the $224,400 SEG annually provided for this purpose in fiscal years 1999-2000 and 2000-2001, I am vetoing the part of the bill which funds the support for the department’s involvement in the FEPP program. This amount of funding is excessive and unnecessary. This funding is in addition to $85,000 SEG annually requested by DNR and which was recommended by myself and the Joint Committee on Finance to support the fire department grant program and the FEPP program. I am also requesting the Department of Administration secretary not to allot these additional funds.
65. Public Relations Training
Section 672p
This section requires the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to provide, at least once a biennium, an in-service training course on the topic of natural resources and public relations. The course must be modeled on a course offered by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
I am vetoing this section because legislative directive is not the appropriate place to set agency training goals. However, public relations are important in all areas of government. Most agencies work with members of the public on a daily basis. DNR, in particular, has the ability to impact how individuals live, work and recreate. I will ensure that all agencies, especially DNR, incorporate public relations and customer services courses into their training programs.
66. Tourism Funding
Section 684m
This section prohibits the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from expending funds to support a program or activity of the Department of Tourism.
I am vetoing this section because it unduly limits DNR’s ability to work in conjunction with another state agency to promote Wisconsin’s natural resources and recreational opportunities.
TOURISM
67. Grant to America’s Black Holocaust Museum
Section 342
Section 342 allocates $50,000 in each fiscal year for grants to America’s Black Holocaust Museum in the City of Milwaukee.
I am partially vetoing this section to remove the requirement to provide funding in each fiscal year because providing this funding on a one-time basis is consistent with the way we’ve treated other similar programs in the budget bill. I am very supportive of the need to present current and future generations with the historical reality of slavery and the African-American experience. However, the Department of Tourism has a tourism marketing campaign that promotes African-American destinations, including the Black Holocaust Museum. As such, an ongoing direct grant is duplicative and could reduce funding available for future grants to other cultural attractions, including multicultural sites.
TRANSPORTATION
68. Local Segregated Transportation Accounts
Sections 1849d and 1863md
These sections require each local unit of government to create a segregated account for local highways and mass transit to which all state and federal funds for local highways and mass transit, including local match amounts, would have to be deposited. In addition, the sections specify that revenues in the accounts can only be spent on local highways and mass transit expenses. If these requirements are not met, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must withhold state aid until the requirements are met, for a maximum of 180 days, after which time the aid will be forfeited.
I am partially vetoing sections 1849d [as it relates to s. 86.20 (6m) (a) 2.] and 1863md [as it relates to s. 86.30 (11) (a) 2.] to remove the requirement that segregated accounts include local matching funds or local general revenues for highway and transit purposes because this places an unnecessary constraint on local governments.
I am partially vetoing sections 1849d [as it relates to s. 85.20 (6m) (b)] and 1863md [as it relates to s. 86.30 (11) (b)] to specify the department may withhold state aid to noncompliant local governments because the department has no cost-effective mechanism to continuously monitor and track compliance.
I am partially vetoing sections 1849d [as it relates to s. 85.20 (6m) (c)] and 1863md [as it relates to s. 86.30 (11) (c)] because the Department of Revenue (DOR) is better situated to develop local government accounting rules that are not in conflict with other mandated accounting practices. I am requesting DOR to promulgate rules in consultation with local governments and DOT to implement these provisions. Furthermore, the rules should include alternative withholding provisions that will ensure local government compliance.
69. Mass Transit Aid Formula Changes
Sections 1834, 1847m and 1848
These sections establish a new formula for the distribution of transit aid. Four tiers, one each for systems in Milwaukee, Madison, medium-sized cities, and smaller municipalities, are created. Within each tier, state aid will be distributed so that the combination of state and federal aid provides an equal percentage of the operating expenses of each system in the tier. These sections also clarify that maintenance expenses are considered operating expenses for the purpose of distributing state aid and the Department of Transportation (DOT) may require systems receiving federal aid directly to notify the department of the amount of federal aid that will be used for operating expenses (the Madison and Milwaukee tiers are exempt from these requirements).
I am partially vetoing these sections to remove the exemption of the Madison Metro and Milwaukee County transit systems from notifying DOT of anticipated service expansions, maintenance costs and the amount of federal aid applied toward operating costs because it is inequitable and contrary to a cost-efficient use of state transit aid. These changes will assist in establishing uniformity in distributing state aid between systems but will not affect the amount of aid to be paid to the Madison and Milwaukee systems.
70. Federal Discretionary Grant Award Limit
Sections 1830gb, 1852f, 1852gd and 9350 (4z)
These sections prohibit the Department of Transportation from approving transportation enhancement and surface transportation discretionary grants beyond the current biennium in which the grants will be awarded or in excess of available funding under the biennial budget act.
I am vetoing these sections because they unnecessarily limit the department's authority to allocate federal funding for enhancement and discretionary grant projects. This provision could reduce the department’s ability to secure critical federal funding for local community transportation projects by limiting the number of projects the department may submit as eligible for funding in a given year.
71. Federal Discretionary Grant Earmarks
Sections 9150 (2g) and 9150 (3g)
Section 9150 (3g) requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to approve the Kinnickinnic River Bike Trail Project for federal funding before approving any other project for federal funding. In addition, section 9150 (2g) requires DOT to allocate $190,400 FED for the Flambeau River Recreational Bridge Project from the transportation enhancement activities appropriation.
I am partially vetoing section 9150 (2g) to remove the grant amount for the Flambeau River Recreational Bridge Project and partially vetoing section 9150 (3g) to remove top priority for the Kinnickinnic River Bike Trail Project because these provisions limit the department’s flexibility in conducting an objective award process. While both of these projects are important, both should be awarded funding based on merit relative to other applications.
72. Bicycle and Pedestrian Facility Grant Appropriation
Sections 172 [as it relates to s. 20.395 (2) (ox)], 346t, 346w, 346y, 347d, 1830, 1830gc, 1830gd, 1852g, 1852j, 1852k and 9150 (10z)
These sections provide $9,755,000 FED annually in a new appropriation for bicycle and pedestrian facilities grants and reduce funding by the following amounts: $4,998,400 FED annually from the transportation enhancements appropriation, $3,124,600 FED annually from the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement appropriation, and $1,632,000 FED annually from the surface transportation discretionary grants appropriation. In addition, the sections specify that grants made for planning, design or construction of bicycle and pedestrian facilities must be made from the new appropriation and the sum of grants awarded may not exceed the amount of funding appropriated in the 1999-2001 biennium.
I am vetoing this provision because it could restrict the amount of funding that can be allocated for bicycle and pedestrian facilities programs. Bicycle and pedestrian facilities represent a vital component of Wisconsin’s varied transportation options. I am committed to continued increases in the allocation of Wisconsin’s federal transportation funding toward these programs. Since the three appropriations reduced to fund the proposed appropriation are continuing, I request the Department of Administration secretary to restore those amounts through the allotment process.
73. County Highway Improvement Program
Section 9150 (2bgm)
This section requires the Department of Transportation to promulgate emergency rules associated with authorizing county highway departments to conduct improvement work under the county highway improvement program. Furthermore, the section requires the department to submit proposed permanent rules related to these provisions no later than the first day of the seventh month beginning after the effective date of the bill.
