Posted on 02/04/2015 2:09:58 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican Gov. Scott Walker's budget would prohibit the state Department of Natural Resources from purchasing any land through its stewardship program until at least 2028 — if the program still exists then.
The budget the governor released Tuesday would place a moratorium on stewardship land acquisitions. It would last until the DNR's debt service on purchases that already have been made drops to $1 for every $8 spent since the program's inception in 1989. The program won't reach that ratio until 2028. The moratorium is expected to save the state $13 million in debt by then, according to Walker's budget.
The stewardship program is set to expire in mid-2020. Legislators could vote to renew it, but the program still couldn't buy any land until it meets that debt ratio.
The stewardship program authorizes the DNR to borrow money for land purchases, boat landing repair, developing DNR property and grants to conservancy organizations and local governments for land acquisition. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau has estimated the DNR has spent $84.7 million on stewardship land purchases from mid-2000 to mid-2014. The state spent $87 million paying off stewardship program debt in fiscal year 2013-14 alone, with $73.5 million of that coming from tax dollars, according to the fiscal bureau.......
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
: )
I hear you but you might need to share.
Not ALL Republican’s agree.....
Plus, I guess this way will let it die on the vine over time.
Oh man, he traded Right to Work for this, and other tax saving measures?
FYI, that’s to needle the Cruz guys.
: )
Union’s are dying on the vine too!
A sizable portion of the money the state dnr has to spend comes from the federal govt. The state has to match the federal money and sometimes the local govt has to come up with the money.
If Wisconsin doesn't want it, Arkansas, Colorado, or others will take it. Tourist business is big business.
There are two streams of money from the feds.
The first dates back to Eisenhower and royalties from offshore drilling, which fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the park money fund, and the historical site preservation money.
The other stream is excise taxes. The Federal Aid to wildlife dates back to the 30s which is a excise tax on hunting equipment and supplies that the treasury collects, which is turned over to FWS and then granted back to the states. There is also an excise tax on fishing equipment/supplies and motor boat fuel that get granted back to the states. They have funding formulas based on the number of hunting & Fishing licenses and boat registrations but they all require matching grants.
Those are State assets, first and foremost, regardless of whatever was signed/inferred/conveyed. Either the Constitution means what is written, or it’s as dead as I’ve said/think it has been.
I’m all for the States taking it all back...let D.C. pound its fists/feet.
Then, and only then, are they free to do as they please.
Here in Nevada, the Feds control 87% of the land mass. In Utah=84%.
All this Federal control needs to be taken back by the citizens.
Cause they dont want give him up. Thats how well he is liked in that state.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.