Budget Provision Would Require Transparency for Knowles-Nelson Project

A grant from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund helped the Village of Sister Bay to secure Pebble Beach. File photo by Myles Dannhausen Jr.

Among Gov. Tony Evers’ 2023-25 biennial budget proposals is a provision that would increase transparency in the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, which was created in 1989. For decades, this program has supported the acquisition of hundreds of thousands of acres of land, including natural areas, fisheries and streambank protection, forests, and wildlife management. 

The governor’s 2023-25 biennial budget would increase transparency in the process to ensure that projects are not unnecessarily delayed by what’s been referred to as a “pocket veto.” Specifically, the budget includes a provision requiring that if a legislator objects to a proposed Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program project approval, that legislator’s name and the nature of the objection must be shared publicly, among other changes.