7.
Nonpoint Source Pollution Abatement Grants to Farmers and Other Landowners: While I commend the Legislature for retaining the additional funding I provided for cost-share grants to farmers and other landowners for nutrient management planning and grants to counties to ensure adequate staff is available to assist farmers and other landowners, I am deeply disappointed that the Legislature reduced the funding I provided to assist landowners and communities in installing practices that would reduce nonpoint source pollution. Farmers and communities rely on this funding to support efforts to protect Wisconsin's abundant waters. This unjustifiable reduction in funding will have a significant negative impact on the efforts of local communities statewide to grow and develop recreational, economic and tourism opportunities, and to improve the environment for fish, wildlife, citizens and visitors to this state.
8.
Sturgeon Bay Bridge: The bill contains a provision to make the construction of a new bridge in the city of Sturgeon Bay a priority for the Department of Transportation. The existing bridge that connects the two sides of the city is scheduled for reconstruction, and without the new bridge, the two sections of the city would be completely separated by the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal during the reconstruction. To ensure that the city remains connected for emergency response and traffic safety purposes, I am committed to doing everything in the state's power to get this project under construction within the provision's one-year timeframe. Unfortunately, the Federal Highway Administration has indicated that the preliminary activities (e.g., reevaluation of the environmental assessment, final design, real estate acquisition, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Coast Guard permits, etc.) for such a project would take three years to complete. I do not accept that timeframe and am directing the Department of Transportation secretary to work with the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Coast Guard to expedite this project.
Protecting taxpayers and investing in our priorities. Those were my simple goals when I introduced the budget, and the goals I have met through my vetoes in signing the budget. This budget delivers true property tax relief by enacting realistic limits on local levies, maintaining the strict current law revenue limits for schools and providing adequate state school aid and direct property tax credits.
Two years ago, I signed a budget that brought us out of the depths of the worst deficit in the state's history. Today, I sign a budget that moves Wisconsin on toward full recovery. It cuts taxes and grows our economy. It assists Wisconsin's service personnel, veterans and their families who are making the greatest sacrifices to protect freedom for us all. It builds on my efforts to streamline and improve state operations. It helps parents and students with accessing higher education. It protects our environment and abundant natural resources.
Wisconsin is a great state because we have always been optimistic about our future. I am optimistic for Wisconsin – present and future. I sign a budget today, after vetoes, that keeps us on course to a brighter future for all Wisconsin citizens.
On Wisconsin.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Doyle
Governor
__________________
Table of Contents
A. EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
ARTS BOARD
1. Required Lapse to the General Fund
HIGHER EDUCATIONAL AIDS BOARD
2. Wisconsin Higher Education Grants; University of Wisconsin System Students
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
3. School District Revenue Limits
4. Increasing Funding for School Aids and Property Tax Relief
5. Milwaukee Parental Choice Program Eligibility
6. Milwaukee Charter School Pupil Eligibility
7. Milwaukee and Racine Charter School Program Funding
8. Student Achievement Guarantee in Education (SAGE) Program
9. Mentoring Grants for Initial Educators
10. Federal Administrative Funding
11. Special Education Studies
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM
12. Surcharge Beyond 125 Percent of Graduation Requirements
13. Course Retake Surcharge
14. Task Force on University of Wisconsin-Waukesha
15. Collaboration Study
16. Repeal of Certain University of Wisconsin System Reporting Requirements
17. Midwest Higher Education Compact
18. Higher Education Committee
19. Study of Joint Academic Programs
20. University of Wisconsin System Building Project Cost Study
WISCONSIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM
21. Levy Limits on Technical College Districts
22. Jobs Advantage Training Program
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
23. W-2 Contracts and Oversight
24. Child Care Quality Improvement Programs
25. Child Care Subsidy Program Family Copayments
26. Children First
B. ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMERCIAL RESOURCES
AGRICULTURE, TRADE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
1. Fish Hatcheries
2. Bioindustry Grant Program
COMMERCE
3. Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Award (PECFA) Program Changes
4. Increase in Enterprise Development Zones
5. Small Business Requirement for Enterprise Development Zones Program
6. Small Business Requirement for the Wisconsin Development Fund
7. Biomedical Technology Alliance Earmark
8. City of Green Bay Earmark
9. Minority Business Finance Program Earmark
10. Community Development Block Grant Earmarks
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
11. Clean Water Fund Bonding
12. Present Value Subsidy Limit
LAND USE
13. Comprehensive Planning and Land Information Aids
14. Land Information Modernization Grants
NATURAL RESOURCES
15. Recycling Tipping Fee and Business Surcharge
16. Business Waste Reduction and Recycling Assistance
17. Air Permits
18. Passive Review of Obligations Under the Stewardship 2000 Program
19. Town Board Approval of Purchases Under the Stewardship 2000 Program
20. Calculation of Aids-in-Lieu of Property Taxes
21. Public Access and Managed Forest Law
22. Expenditures from Forestry Revenues
23. State Park Admission Fees for Senior Citizens
24. Ice Shanty Permit for Nonresidents
25. Chief Warden Authority
26. Appropriation for Safety Education Courses
27. Snowmobile Account Adjustments
28. Cladaphora Algae Study
29. Marsh Restoration
30. Water Resources Account Lapses
31. Water Regulation and Zoning Fees
32. Division Administrators
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC LANDS
A384
33. Sale of Board of Commissioners of Public Lands Holdings
STATE FAIR PARK BOARD
34. Expenditure Plan
TRANSPORTATION
35. Transportation Infrastructure and Fund Transfer
