County Conservationists Ask Joint Finance Committee To Restore Their Funding

County conservation officials are calling on lawmakers to restore funding aimed at helping them work with farmers to reduce water pollution.

Speaking before the Joint Finance Committee in Ellsworth on Wednesday, a group of county conservationists from western Wisconsin urged members to get them back to their 2011 funding levels.

Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal provides $8 million for the state’s 72 county conservation offices. That’s around 14 percent less than before he took office. Pepin County Conservationist Chase Cummings said they need more support in working with farmers to reduce runoff.

“What is at stake is the 80-year Wisconsin tradition of public–private partnerships to protect land and water resources,” Cummings said. “That is the legend of John Muir, Aldo Leopold and the vast majority of Wisconsin citizens.”

Dunn County Conservationist Dan Prestebak testified he’d like to see funding restored to $9.3 million, the level set in the 2011-2013 state budget. He said they’re the boots on the ground in fighting water pollution.

“We see our list of impaired waters growing. So I think it’s critical that you fund land conservation departments because we’re out there working with the farmers,” Prestebak said.

More than 100 people attended Wednesday’s JFC hearing. Other prominent issues brought up during the day’s testimony included calls to maintain Walker’s funding increases for public schools and University of Wisconsin System campuses.

The final JFC hearing is set for Friday in Marinette.