MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It's one of the biggest challenges facing Wisconsin in the years ahead. The state's internal projections show a population that will be significantly older by the end of the decade.

According to the Department of Administration's Demographic Services Center, Wisconsin had 1,060,017 residents who were 65 or older in 2020. By 2030, that number is projected to increase to 1,342,855.

The number of Wisconsin residents 75 and older is projected to go from 431,692 in 2020 to 607,445 in 2030.

More baby boomers reaching their senior years combined with a declining birth rate leads to state projections showing the state of Wisconsin's population that is 65 or older will go from being 18% in 2020 to 23% by the end of this decade.

Those numbers highlighted the need for projects like the $4 million state-funded renovation of the Clinton Rose Senior Center on Milwaukee's north side.

Gov. Tony Evers joined Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley for Wednesday's grand reopening ceremony. 

Crowley is the Democratic nominee for governor. After the event, Crowley said his approach to Wisconsin's demographic challenges would start with listening to seniors, themselves.

"During my time as county executive, I've had an incredible partnership with our older adults," Crowley said. "When I think about the rest of this state, it's about making sure our seniors have a seat at the table. They know what's best for them, and we just can't assume what we're bringing to them is exactly what they want."

As far as what specific policies Crowley would enact as governor, he said he would target housing affordability, both for retirement communities and for individuals choosing to stay in their longtime homes.

"We have to make sure that, one, we're spending on different types of programs so they can continue to have access to senior living facilities," Crowley said. "And have access to live independently and live on their own with affordable housing."

The Republican nominee for governor, Congressman Tom Tiffany, also prioritized housing affordability when asked about the issue.

A spokesperson for Tiffany's campaign said Tiffany wasn't available for an interview Wednesday but shared a statement attributed to the Northwoods congressman.

“Wisconsin needs to be a state where seniors can afford to stay in their homes, and young people can afford to build their futures," Tiffany said in the statement. "As governor, I will lower property taxes and implement a property tax freeze so Wisconsinites on fixed incomes have certainty that they will not be taxed out of their homes."

Tiffany said he would "hold the Public Service Commission accountable" for rising utility rates, and he'd drive efforts aimed at catching waste and fraud in senior-based programs.

To promote a strong workforce pipeline to replace the wave of retirements, Tiffany said he would push to expand technical education programs and apprenticeships.

At the Clinton Rose center, 88-year-old Johnnie Mae Williams said the state should also invest in improvements at senior resource centers like the one she's been coming to since 2017.

"Well, we have exercise. I love dancing, I love art, I love music," she said. "And I love being around the other people."

Williams added, speaking for herself, she couldn't imagine an existence without having her neighborhood senior center.

"Because if I had to sit at home," she said. "I would just have to look at four walls."