Fingers pointed politically as Knowles-Nelson Stewardship funding ends

(The Center Square) – The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program still exists in Wisconsin statute but, for the first time in 37 years of its existence, it does not have state taxpayer funding for land acquisition.

The funding was removed from Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposal and separate proposals from both Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature failed, meaning funding for acquisitions in the program or things like new boat launches, trails, playgrounds and matching grants were not included.

“The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program enjoys tremendous bipartisan support among Wisconsin voters,” the program posted about the end of funding. “Partisan politics in the Capitol killed funding for the program.

“Knowles-Nelson isn’t gone for good, but for now it goes dark. It stays in state statute, still on the books, just with no funding behind it. The Legislature can fund it again whenever they choose to, which means the program’s future comes down to who commits to making it ...