33.
Unencumbered Rural Development Loan Funds Section 24
This section transfers, upon the approval of the Joint Committee on Finance, the unencumbered balance of the loans for rural development appropriation under s. 20.115 (3) (h) to the general purpose revenue funds general program supplementation appropriation under s. 20.865 (4) (a). I am vetoing this section because I object to transferring PR funds intended for rural development and placing them into a GPR appropriation for an unspecified purpose. In addition, this provision may be in violation of federal guidance.
44.
Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports Section 9102 (1)
This provision requires the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to submit a joint plan with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to the cochairpersons of the Joint Committee on Finance for allocating $5,000,000 over five years to increase agricultural exports by 2026 to 25 percent over their 2021 levels.
I am vetoing this provision because I object to a reporting requirement that is unnecessary and administratively burdensome. Over the past two and a half years, my administration has worked diligently to promote agricultural exports and launch this initiative, only to be met by inaction from the Legislature. In this budget, the Legislature again fails to provide the needed resources for this critical program to support our farmers, their families, and our agriculture economy. Requiring the submittal of this joint plan to the Joint Committee on Finance would simply be another step that could delay providing economic opportunities for Wisconsin's farmers and agricultural processors. It is also particularly unnecessary given that the Legislature failed to appropriate sufficient dollars in this budget to fund a five-year plan.
55.
Industrial Hemp Program Staffing Section 9102 (2)
This provision requires the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to study options for resolving the deficit in the hemp program and submit a report to the cochairpersons of the Joint Committee on Finance no later than March 30, 2022.
I am vetoing this provision because I object to a study that is burdensome and unnecessary. The financial situation of the hemp appropriation is well documented, and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection will need to make a decision on the future of the program several months prior to the due date of the report.
66.
Beaver Dam Lake Restoration Section 41
This provision directs the Department of Natural Resources to provide $220,200 from the environmental fund in a new biennial appropriation for grants to the Beaver Dam Lake Improvement Association for restoration of shoreline along Beaver Dam Lake at Puckagee Springs Creek. The appropriation would be repealed on June 30, 2023.
I am partially vetoing this provision because I object to utilizing environmental fund dollars for a purpose that is unrelated to the environmental fund. By striking the reference to the environmental fund, the funding for this provision defaults to the conservation fund. This will preserve funds in the environmental fund to be used for much-needed environmental initiatives.
77.
Clam Falls Dam Repair Section 43
This provision directs the Department of Natural Resources to provide $2,000,000 from the environmental fund in a new biennial appropriation for a grant to Polk County for repairs to the dam on Clam River near the town of Clam Falls. The appropriation would be repealed on June 30, 2023.
I am partially vetoing this provision because I object to utilizing environmental fund dollars for a purpose that is unrelated to the environmental fund. By striking the reference to the environmental fund, the funding for this provision defaults to the conservation fund. This will preserve funds in the environmental fund to be used for much-needed environmental initiatives.
88.
Dead Pike Lake Restoration Section 45
This provision directs the Department of Natural Resources to provide $125,000 from the environmental fund in a new biennial appropriation for a grant to the town of Manitowish Waters in Vilas County for installation of a water control structure. The appropriation would be repealed on June 30, 2023.
I am partially vetoing this provision because I object to utilizing environmental fund dollars for a purpose that is unrelated to the environmental fund. By striking the reference to the environmental fund, the funding for this provision defaults to the conservation fund. This will preserve funds in the environmental fund to be used for much-needed environmental initiatives.
99.
Southeastern Wisconsin Fox River Commission Section 47
This provision directs the Department of Natural Resources to provide $200,000 from the environmental fund in a new biennial appropriation for a grant to the Southeastern Wisconsin Fox River Commission for strategic planning and to pursue grant funding opportunities. The appropriation would be repealed on June 30, 2023.
I am partially vetoing this provision because I object to utilizing environmental fund dollars for a purpose that is unrelated to the environmental fund. By striking the reference to the environmental fund, the funding for this provision defaults to the conservation fund. This will preserve funds in the environmental fund to be used for much-needed environmental initiatives.
This provision directs the Department of Natural Resources to provide $2,000,000 from the environmental fund in a new biennial appropriation for a grant to the city of New Berlin for road construction related to the Lake Michigan diversion for the city of Waukesha.
I am vetoing this provision because I object to directing the Department of Natural Resources to provide grants for road construction projects. Requiring the department to utilize the environmental fund for a road construction project is an inappropriate use of the environmental fund. The city of New Berlin can seek funding for the road project through programs at the Department of Transportation.
1111.
Waterfowl Hunting Stamp Reporting Requirement Section 170
This section requires the Department of Natural Resources to create a report on the money received from the waterfowl hunting stamp, how the money was used, how much was spent on each project and how much is left unobligated at the end of the fiscal biennium. This report would be delivered to the Joint Committee on Finance and the appropriate standing committees of the Legislature no later than November 15 of each odd-numbered year.
I am vetoing this section because I object to a reporting requirement that is duplicative and administratively burdensome.
1212.
Fire Fighting Foam Appropriation Title This provision creates a new clean sweep – fire fighting foam appropriation under s. 20.370 (4) (ps) in the Department of Natural Resources.
I am partially vetoing these sections because I object to creating an appropriation at the Department of Natural Resources with a title that is substantially similar to the title of a program at the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Calling both of these programs "clean sweep" could lead to confusion.
1313.
Great Lakes Remediation Lapse Section 9232 (1)
This provision lapses $2,500 to the general fund in fiscal year 2021-22 from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (4) (af). I am vetoing this provision because I object to requiring a lapse from this appropriation when the state is in a strong financial position.
1414.
State Parks Maintenance Lapse Section 9232 (2)
This provision lapses $37,800 to the general fund in fiscal year 2021-22 from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (7) (fa). I am vetoing this provision because I object to requiring a lapse from this appropriation when the state is in a strong financial position.
1515.
Building Acquisition and Maintenance Lapse Section 9232 (3)
This provision lapses $7,200 to the general fund in fiscal year 2021-22 from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (7) (ha). I am vetoing this provision because I object to requiring a lapse from this appropriation when the state is in a strong financial position.
1616.
Motorized Stewardship Section 146
This provision sets aside $500,000 per year in bonding authority from the property development and local assistance subprogram of the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program for all-terrain vehicle, utility terrain vehicle, and snowmobile projects.
I am vetoing this provision because I object to limiting the department's flexibility when obligating bonding authority for projects under Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program. The Department of Natural Resources is able to fund all-terrain vehicle, utility terrain vehicle, and snowmobile projects without needing a specific earmark. Additionally, this budget provides an increase of $750,000 in each year for local all-terrain vehicle and utility terrain vehicle trail aids, $250,000 in each year for state all-terrain vehicle and utility terrain vehicle trail maintenance, and $200,000 in each year for snowmobile trail aids. This veto is consistent with the recommendation in my proposed budget.
BB.
EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 1717.
Grants to Lakeland STAR Academy Sections 21 [as it relates to s. 20.255 (2) (ai)], 30, 31, 9134 (1), and 9434 _Hlk12346928These sections provide $250,000 GPR in fiscal year 2021-22 and $500,000 GPR in fiscal year 2022-23 in a newly created annual appropriation for grants to the Lakeland STAR Academy. Specifically, they require the Department of Public Instruction to provide a grant to the Lakeland UHS School District for the Lakeland STAR Academy. No payments could be made from this appropriation after June 30, 2023. I am partially vetoing section 21 [as it relates to s. 20.255 (2) (ai)] and vetoing the remaining sections in their entirety to eliminate the grant program for Lakeland STAR Academy. I object to providing state grants to specific schools when the Legislature has provided limited new spending to Wisconsin's public school system as a whole. Every kid in Wisconsin should be able to get a great education in a public school regardless of what district they live in, and state funding decisions should not pick winners and losers among our kids. 1818.
Benchmark Assessments This provision provides $2,000,000 GPR in the Joint Committee on Finance's GPR supplemental appropriation in fiscal year 2021-22, which the committee indicated is intended to allow for the Department of Public Instruction to request to utilize for benchmark assessments.
I am partially vetoing section 21 [as it relates to s. 20.865 (4) (a)] by lining out the amount under s. 20.865 (4) (a) and writing in a smaller amount that reduces the appropriation by $2,000,000 GPR in fiscal year 2021-22. By doing so, I am vetoing the part of the bill that is intended to fund benchmark assessments. I object to providing funds in this inefficient manner. Funding should be provided directly to the Department of Public Instruction for grants to school districts. Additionally, districts may choose to provide assessments to measure student progress without this grant funding. I am also requesting the Department of Administration secretary to not allot these funds. 1919.
High Cost Transportation Aid Section 359
_Hlk75868741This section specifies that a school district would be eligible for high cost transportation aid if the district's membership was less than 3,500 pupils in the prior year instead of the current eligibility requirement of a pupil population density of 50 pupils per square mile or less. I am vetoing this section in its entirety to retain current eligibility requirements for high cost transportation aid. I object to restricting school district eligibility based on district membership instead of pupil population density. Based on the most recent information available from the Department of Public Instruction, the change in definition could result in school districts that are currently eligible for this funding to become ineligible. In a budget where the Legislature has already failed to fund our K-12 schools at a sufficient level, any eligibility change which may reduce a district's funding is unacceptable.
Sections 67 and 338
These sections expand the eligibility for the summer youth jobs program to include programs outside of first-class cities.
I am vetoing these sections in their entirety because I object to the diversion of funding from existing programs that are critical for the future of our youth in Milwaukee, currently the only first-class city in Wisconsin. It is unfortunate that the Legislature did not provide additional funding for this program to ensure that it could be expanded statewide without negatively impacting the youth who are served by the existing program. If the Legislature is interested in partnering on a statewide expansion, I would welcome legislation that provides additional funding and authorization to expand the program statewide.
2121.
Occupational Drug Testing Sections 340 and 341
These sections require the Department of Workforce Development to immediately promulgate administrative rules to establish occupational drug testing for unemployment insurance purposes.
I am vetoing these sections in their entirety because I object to the Legislature directing the department to pursue a policy despite no evidence of a widespread issue of drug usage for individuals applying for or receiving unemployment insurance benefits. The Department of Workforce Development's efforts should be focused on assisting those who are unemployed or underemployed to obtain family-sustaining jobs rather than burdensome rule-making.
2222.
Clearing Account Deficit Section 9101 (2)
This provision requires the Department of Administration to identify amounts from fiscal year 2021-22 GPR appropriations to transfer to reconcile the Department of Workforce Development's clearing account deficit. This provision also requires both departments to jointly submit a request under s. 13.101 (4) by March 1, 2022, to transfer the amounts identified. I object to and am vetoing this provision because it is an unnecessary requirement. The clearing account deficit in the Department of Workforce Development was eliminated in fiscal year 2020-21 as a result of careful budgeting by the department, which also had been planning for an administrative lapse requirement that was forgiven.
2323.
Unemployment Insurance Study This provision provides $25,000 GPR in the Joint Committee on Finance's GPR supplemental appropriation, which the committee indicated is intended to allow the Department of Workforce Development to request in order to conduct a study about converting the state's unemployment insurance system into a sliding scale system in which benefit calculations and eligibility weeks are adjusted based upon the unemployment rate.
I am partially vetoing section 21 [as it relates to s. 20.865 (4) (a)] by lining out the amounts under s. 20.865 (4) (a) and writing in a smaller amount to reduce the appropriation by $25,000 GPR in fiscal year 2021-22. I object to the financing of a study about converting to a system that could put unemployment insurance benefits in jeopardy for those vulnerable individuals that rely on these benefits during difficult economic times. I am also requesting the Department of Administration secretary to not allot these funds. CC.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES 2424.
Building Program – Local Grants _Hlk76568604Sections 4, 20 [as it relates to non-state local project grant program and s. 20.867 (3) (ct)], 21 [as it relates to s. 20.867 (3) (ct)], 94, 118, 127, and 9104 (1) (a)
