What’s in the Governor’s Budget

We are happy to report that Governor Doyle has acted decisively to protect Wisconsin’s farm and forest lands. Wisconsin must take steps to protect these lands and the positive impacts they have on the state’s economy and environment. Included in the Governor’s budget-neutral proposal unveiled in February is a set of tools to protect working lands, including:

- Updates to the Farmland Preservation Program.  This program, which is based on farmland preservation planning, exclusive agricultural zoning and tax credits to landowners, was established in the 1970s and has lost much of its original effectiveness.

- $12 million for a new state Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) grant program to support and encourage permanent protection of key farmland at the local level (including Purchase of Development Rights).  Under this program, local governments and non-profit organizations would be eligible for state matching grants to compensate landowners who voluntarily restrict the future use of their land through a conservation easement.  The program would stretch limited state dollars by requiring a 50% match in federal, local or private funds.

- Establishment of voluntary Agricultural Enterprise Areas under which neighboring farmers enter into long-term contracts to keep their land in agriculture in exchange for tax credits and other incentives. 

Download Working Lands Initiative Assembly Bill 75 Excerpts »
Download a summary of the Governor's proposed budget »

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