Report shows outdoors funding imbalance: Wisconsin collects lots in fees, lags in park funding

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Wisconsin is among the nation's leaders in collecting license revenue for outdoor activities, but is one of the stingiest when it comes to state park funding, according to a report released Friday.

The nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum highlighted a contrast between the high usage of state's natural attraction and a steady decline in state funding over the span of a generation.

Using data from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the report compared hunting and fishing revenue data between states in 2019.

During that year, Wisconsin collected about $70 million in revenue from hunting and fishing licenses. Only Texas, California and Colorado raked in more money from those fees.

At the same time, the report pointed to numbers provided by the National Association of State Park Directors. In 2017, Wisconsin gave $1.08 to its state parks for every visit. That ranked 50th among the states, well behind the U.S. average of $3.21 per visit.

"You think about a dollar a visit, that's pretty lean," Jason Stein, the policy forum's research director, said. "When you think about parks providing roads, bridges, bathroom facilities, trails."

The state-level numbers added another layer of frustration for The Park People, which advocates for the Milwaukee County Parks System.

"I am shocked, because having grown up in Wisconsin, you're an outdoors state," John Machulak, the group's board director, said. "You attract people from Illinois. You attract people from all parts of the country."

The report also highlighted the decline in funding for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). In the 1995-97 state budget, Wisconsin gave the DNR a budget of $334.3 million. The most recent state budget, running from 2021 into 2023, provides $197.5 to the DNR.

"It's just almost unbelievable," Dana Hansen, executive director of The Park People, said. "For how many people- I would say the majority of Wisconsinites, they are here for those services, and that needs to be looked at immediately."

With Wisconsin's state government sitting on a projected surplus of more than $7 billion, Machulak and Hansen said they hoped the next budget cycle will bring more funding for both state parks and local governments.

That new funding amount for the DNR and Wisconsin's state parks will be determined over the next two to three months. The Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee is in the early stages of rewriting Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' proposed budget.

Evers has the power to veto parts of the budget. The budget process is expected to wrap up on time in June.

Stein said the forum does not take any policy positions, but noted the massive surplus opens the door to bring state funding more in line with most states.

"It's an opportunity to think about how do we improve and pass on that legacy to our children and grandchildren," Stein said.

County's unique challenges

Stein said funding for the local parks system varies statewide; some are in good shape while others are in dire straits. Milwaukee County has one of the most troubling situations.

County leaders point to Madison because state funding for local governments, known as shared revenue, has remained flat. Stein noted there are also problems specific to Milwaukee County, including pension problems that date back to a 2002 scandal.

Because of Milwaukee County's unique challenges, Stein said the policy forum is working on a separate report targeting possible solutions for Milwaukee County Parks. Among the possible changes are partnerships with the county's cities and villages, and perhaps even with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District.