3. Construction Projects
Sections 26m, 125 [as it relates to Non-state local project grant program], 126 [as it relates to s. 20.867 (3) (cw)] 307n, 309t and 9104 (1) (b) 1. a. This provision creates a grant program for construction projects for nonstate organizations. The Building Commission may authorize up to $25,000,000 in general fund supported borrowing. Each grant may not exceed $5,000,000.
I am partially vetoing this provision because I object to providing scarce state resources in this manner when there are higher priorities for this bonding. Under this partial veto, the Building Commission may award up to $25,000,000 in general fund supported borrowing for construction projects with a public purpose. As I am retaining the $3,000,000 allocation for the Incourage Community Foundation economic and community hub, I am directing that $22,000,000 of this funding support the construction of a new Type 1 facility for the Department of Corrections to replace Lincoln Hills School and plan to bring such a motion before the Building Commission to move this project forward. This will ensure that, as soon as possible, the state is able to provide housing for youth closer to their homes and in the least restrictive appropriate setting.
4. Center Bonding
Sections 26o, 125 [as it relates to Northern Wisconsin Regional Crisis Center], 126 [as it relates to s. 20.867 (3) (cx)], 307o, 309u, 9104 (1) (b) 1. b., and 9104 (10) This provision creates a grant program to a nonstate organization for the establishment of a northern Wisconsin regional crisis center. The Building Commission may authorize up to $15,000,000 in general fund supported borrowing for this purpose. Prior to issuing a grant, the Building Commission must first determine that the project is in the public interest and serves one or more public purposes that are statewide responsibilities of statewide dimension.
I am partially vetoing this provision because I object to this project not following the normal enumeration process that has been established by the Building Commission. Under this partial veto, the Building Commission may award up to $15,000,000 in general fund supported borrowing for a center. I am directing that this funding be used to support the expansion of the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center by the Department of Health Services and plan to bring such a motion before the Building Commission to move this project forward. This will ensure that the state is able to provide appropriate mental health treatment for youth.
5. Corrections Bonding
Sections 125 [as it relates to Correctional facilities], 306g and 306h
This provision reduces the bonding authority for correctional facilities from $951,679,900 to $950,412,900.
I am vetoing this provision because I object to reducing bonding authority for correctional facilities at a time when the Department of Corrections is facing multiple infrastructure needs after years of neglect. The Legislature previously authorized $951,679,900 in bonding authority for this purpose, and I believe that the bonding authority should be utilized for the department.
6. Assistant District Attorney Position Distribution
Section 9210 (1f)
This section provides funding and position authority to increase the authorized FTE assistant district attorney positions by 34.85 FTE GPR positions beginning on October 1, 2019. The section also allocates the positions to 32 different counties.
I am partially vetoing this section because I object to earmarking the positions to certain counties instead of assigning them to where they are most needed. I am directing the Department of Administration to work with the State Prosecutors Office to allocate the positions to counties in a manner that considers need holistically, including staffing needs based on creation or expansion of treatment alternatives and diversion programs, meeting with victims prior to charging, addressing backlogs, and utilizing available workload analyses. I have heard from public safety professionals that an allocation that considers these factors will help reduce the incarceration of nonviolent offenders and enable the district attorneys to take a thoughtful approach to cases, including utilizing diversion programs and other alternatives to incarceration, while maintaining public safety.
7. One Step Pay Progression
Section 9210 (1e)
This section provides $1,246,600 GPR in fiscal year 2019-20 and $2,231,300 GPR in fiscal year 2020-21 to provide a one step pay progression increase to eligible district attorneys on both July 1, 2019, and July 1, 2020.
I am partially vetoing this section because I object to appropriating funds that could not be spent as currently drafted. While state statute allows for pay progression for deputy district attorneys and assistant district attorneys, district attorneys are not eligible to receive pay progression steps because their salary is set by statute. Instead, I am correcting the statutory language by eliminating the requirement that the pay progression be paid to the district attorneys. This will allow the one step increase to be awarded to eligible deputy district attorneys and assistant district attorneys. While I understand that state law requires pay progression to be awarded entirely based on merit, it is my hope that each eligible assistant district attorney and deputy district attorney receive a pay progression increase that is no less than the 2 percent increase each year, as I proposed originally in this budget.
8. Diversion Pilot Program
Section 9127 (2)
This provision continues the diversion pilot program for nonviolent offenders to be diverted to a treatment program. It also requires the Department of Justice to submit a report by September 1, 2020, to the Joint Committee on Finance describing the services, sites, capabilities and progress of the diversion pilot program for nonviolent offenders.
I am partially vetoing this provision to remove the reporting requirement. I object to a requirement that is unnecessary and administratively burdensome.
9. Beat Patrol Program
Sections 232m, 1799m and 9427 (3p)
This provision creates a new appropriation to fund law enforcement officer supplement grants with GPR for the 2019-21 biennium. The provision would also repeal the new GPR appropriation on July 1, 2021.
I am partially vetoing this provision to remove the July 1, 2021, repeal of the GPR appropriation because I object to removing the option to fund this program with GPR. The law enforcement officer supplement grant has historically been funded by the justice information fee. The justice information fee is frequently in deficit. Leaving the GPR appropriation in place would provide the Department of Justice with additional flexibility when making its budget request for law enforcement officer supplement grants for the 2021-23 biennium. Providing a stable funding source for this program is critical to ensuring public safety and giving our law enforcement officers the tools they need to safely protect our communities.
10. Treatment Alternatives and Diversion
Section 233
This section creates a new appropriation to the alternatives to incarceration program in counties that currently do not participate in the alternatives to incarceration program.
To address concerns raised by the Attorney General, I am partially vetoing this section to remove the requirement that only counties that currently do not participate in the alternatives to incarceration program are eligible for funding from this appropriation. I object to limiting flexibility for the Department of Justice. This change will ensure all the funds are invested in treatment alternatives and diversion. Although I am allowing the department flexibility to utilize funds in this appropriation for counties that already participate in the alternatives to incarceration program when needed, I request that the Department of Justice prioritize the funds in this appropriation for counties that currently do not participate in the alternatives to incarceration program prior to expanding existing programs from this appropriation.
11. Chronic Wasting Disease Research
Section 9132 (3y)
This section provides $100,000 in conservation SEG in fiscal year 2020-21 for research into genetic resistance to chronic wasting disease in farm raised deer. The research is to be conducted at a double-fenced deer farm in the southern part of the state that has tested positive for chronic wasting disease.
I am partially vetoing this section because I object to limiting the flexibility of the department to perform research on chronic wasting disease to only certain areas of the state. Instead, I am directing the Department of Natural Resources to study all available options and use the funds for scientific research on chronic wasting disease that is likely to lead to the most success in improving deer management practices in Wisconsin.
12. Repair of State Trails
Section 9132 (3x)
This section directs the Department of Natural Resources to conduct necessary repairs to the portion of the 400 Trail between the village of La Valle in Sauk County and the village of Union Center in Juneau County and the portion of the Elroy-Sparta Trail between the city of Elroy in Juneau County and the village of Norwalk in Monroe County.
I am vetoing this section because I object to directing the department to repair specific trails. The flooding of 2018 caused damage throughout the state trails system, not just on these two trails. This veto would allow the department to prioritize repairs based on the best interests of the state and all trail users.
13. Well Compensation Grant
Section 126 [as it relates to s. 20.865 (4) (u)] This provision provides $400,000 SEG in each fiscal year in the appropriation under s. 20.865 (4) (u). The Department of Natural Resources could request the release of the funds under s. 13.10. The funds could be utilized for the well compensation grant program, although no provision in the bill would direct the funds to be expended on that program. I am partially vetoing section 126 [as it relates to s. 20.865 (4) (u)] by lining out the amount under s. 20.865 (4) (u) and writing in a smaller amount that reduces the appropriation by $400,000 SEG in each fiscal year because I object to appropriating funds that cannot be expended. The Department of Natural Resources is currently unable to expend its base level of funding for the well compensation program given the restrictive nature of current eligibility standards. Given that I have declared 2019 as the Year of Clean Drinking Water, I included programmatic changes in my budget recommendations that would have greatly expanded the eligibility of the well compensation program to additional Wisconsin residents and would have allowed the department to utilize these funds to address contaminated drinking water across the state. Without the needed programmatic changes to the well compensation program, I object to appropriating additional funds that the department would not be able to expend. I am requesting the Department of Administration secretary not to allot these funds. 14. Producer Led Watershed Grants
Section 130m
This section reduces the amount of money the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection can distribute to groups for producer led watershed protection grants from $750,000 annually to $500,000 annually.
I am partially vetoing this section because I object to reducing funding for producer led watershed protection grants. The producer led watershed protection grant program provides funding to projects that focus on ways to prevent and reduce runoff from farm fields. In fiscal year 2018-19, the department received $869,800 in requests from producer led watershed protection groups and awarded $750,000 in grants to 24 groups. Especially given that I have declared 2019 to be the Year of Clean Drinking Water, I do not support reducing the funding to $500,000 annually, which would negatively impact water quality in the state.
B. EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
15. Per Pupil Aid
Section 1459
This provision sets the per pupil aid payment at $679 in fiscal year 2019-20 and $704 in fiscal year 2020-21. This is an annual increase of $25 per pupil in each year of the biennium.
I am partially vetoing this provision to increase the per pupil aid payment in each year after the 2018-19 school year to $679 and $63 for a total of $742. I object to the continued drastic underfunding of Wisconsin's public school children and believe that while the increases in this budget are important, they do not go far enough. Republicans failed to meet the recommendation of their own Blue Ribbon Commission to get to two-thirds funding for our schools. Based on the feedback I heard from the people of Wisconsin, my budget proposed a large but appropriate investment, particularly in special education, because we cannot continue asking folks to tax themselves at the local level to pay for priorities the state should fund. As a result of this veto, school districts will receive immediate additional unrestricted resources to help every student in the state. Even with this change, there is still much more we need to do to ensure that our kids and schools have the resources they need.
16. Supplemental Per Pupil Aid
Section 1464f
This provision creates a grant program that provides $2,800,000 in fiscal year 2019-20 and $2,500,000 in fiscal year 2020-21 for supplemental per pupil aid. Districts would be eligible for this aid if the district's net per pupil payment from the general school aids appropriation is less than the difference between $1,000 and the per pupil categorical aid payment amount for that year ($679 per pupil in the 2019-20 school year and $704 per pupil in the 2020-21 school year). The payment for an eligible district would be equal to $1,000 less the per pupil categorical aid payment amount for that year less the district's net per pupil payment from the general school aids appropriation, multiplied by the enrollment used to calculate the district's per pupil aid in that year.
I am partially vetoing this provision to expand eligibility for supplemental per pupil aid. I object to creating an appropriation that will have a disequalizing impact on our school finance system by benefitting only a small number of districts. Expanding the eligibility allows all districts to be eligible for aid. I believe that state support should be available to as many districts as possible. Given that the Legislature failed to provide sufficient funding for all school districts, these additional dollars should be allocated to help every student in the state. I am requesting the Department of Public Instruction to distribute this funding to all school districts.
17. Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Research Facility
Sections 27f and 9104 (1) (L) 1. a., 2. a. and 3.
These provisions require the Medical College of Wisconsin to secure funding for the construction of a cancer research facility in Milwaukee County in the amount of $85,000,000 from nonstate revenues before the Building Commission may approve any state funding commitment, with the total project cost amounting to $95,000,000.
By using the digit veto, I am partially vetoing these provisions to require the Medical College of Wisconsin to secure $8,500,000, rather than $85,000,000, from nonstate revenues prior to receiving state funding. I am also vetoing the total project cost of $95,000,000. I object to setting an unrealistic and unreasonable requirement for the Medical College of Wisconsin to receive state funding. I believe the lower amount represents a more reasonable requirement in the context of total project costs and timing. Setting a reasonable match requirement will ensure that this important project is able to move forward with state support.
18. University of Wisconsin – Green Bay Cofrin Library Renovation
Section 9104 (11) (a) 1.
This provision provides $500,000 of advanced planning funds for renovation of the Cofrin Library at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.
I am vetoing this provision to remove the advanced planning funds for renovation of the Cofrin Library at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay because I object to spending funds when a preliminary use study is just getting under way. As such, project design is premature at this time.
19. Health Professional Scholarship Program
Sections 126 [as it relates to ss. 20.235 (1) (dg) and 20.235 (1) (dr)], 135g, 135r and 392m [as it relates to s. 39.465 (1) (a), (b), (d), (e), (2), (3) (a) and (b), (4), and (5)] These provisions create a new annual appropriation and provide $800,000 GPR in fiscal year 2020-21 for the Higher Educational Aids Board to provide annual scholarships to no more than five first-year students, including a stipend, equal to $40,000 for each year of a Marquette University School of Dentistry student's enrollment (but not exceeding four years). Recipients must agree to practice in a dental health shortage area, excluding Brown, Dane, Kenosha, Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. In addition, these provisions create a new biennial appropriation and provide $350,000 GPR in the 2019-21 biennium for the board to make grants to the Marquette University School of Dentistry to defray the school's administrative costs related to the rural dentistry scholarship program.
I am vetoing section 135r in its entirety and partially vetoing sections 126, 135g and 392m. I am vetoing the requirement that the students commit to practice dentistry in a dental health shortage area because I object to limiting the funding to one health care practice area and I believe it is important to provide additional resources to support health care professionals practicing in all health care shortage areas across the state. I am vetoing the exclusion of counties for the same reason, as I believe health care professionals should be encouraged to practice where there is need and regardless of location. I am vetoing the limitation on the number of scholarships that can be provided annually and the dollar amount associated with each scholarship because I object to restricting the number of students that could receive awards if more than five first-year students commit to practicing in health shortage areas and there are sufficient resources to fund additional students. Finally, I am vetoing the appropriation for Marquette University School of Dentistry administrative costs related to the program because, as expanded, I object to earmarking funding to the dentistry school when it is unnecessary.
20. University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point Paper Science Program
Section 361
This section requires the Board of Regents to create a 1.0 FTE position in the paper science program at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.
I am partially vetoing this section because I object to the language which indicates that a position must be created as the position already exists. Instead, I am partially vetoing the section to make clear that a position must be maintained in the paper science program.
21. Safety and Building Operations Transfer
Section 9238 (2t)
This section requires the Department of Safety and Professional Services to transfer $5,000,000 from the appropriation account under s. 20.165 (2) (j) to the general fund in fiscal year 2019-20. This appropriation funds the department's inspections and plan reviews for commercial buildings as well as other safety-related activities. I am vetoing this section in its entirety as I object to this transfer of funds. Regulation of safety and building operations supports economic growth and stability while protecting the citizens of Wisconsin. These funds should be retained by the department to enhance service levels.
22. Grants for Training in County Jails from Wisconsin Fast Forward
Sections 1325h and 1325p
These sections require the Department of Workforce Development to allocate to the Department of Corrections $200,000 in fiscal year 2019-20 and $320,000 in fiscal year 2020-21 for the creation and operation of mobile classrooms, and $225,000 in fiscal year 2019-20 and $262,500 in fiscal year 2020-21 for the creation and operation of institutional job centers at six eligible institutions in fiscal year 2019-20 and seven eligible institutions in fiscal year 2020-21.
I am partially vetoing these sections to eliminate the requirement that the department allocate grants in a specified amount in each fiscal year to a specific number of institutions as I object to such specific figures being determined by the Legislature without consultation with the Department of Workforce Development and Department of Corrections. This partial veto will provide greater flexibility to the Department of Workforce Development while maintaining support for job training at correctional facilities from the Wisconsin Fast Forward program. I am directing the Department of Workforce Development and the Department of Corrections to work collaboratively to provide job training opportunities at correctional institutions.
23. Northcentral Technical College Earmark
Section 9150 (7i)
This section would require the Department of Workforce Development to award grants in the amounts of $75,000 in fiscal years 2019-20 and 2020-21 to the Northcentral Technical College board for workforce training in county jail facilities.
I am partially vetoing this section because I object to earmarks for specific technical college districts and believe this earmark is overly restrictive and burdensome. This partial veto will give the department greater flexibility in allocating dollars for workforce training in county jail facilities across the entire state.
24. Grants for Personal Care Worker Training from Wisconsin Fast Forward
Section 9150 (5i)
This section would require the Department of Workforce Development to allocate Wisconsin Fast Forward funding for grants to attract and retain personal care workers.
