Tracking Cathy Stepp's Stewardship Fund Mudballs

Quite a lot of traffic on this blog item from a few days ago about Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp calling the popular, bi-partisan public lands program known as the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund "a Visa card."

She probably felt empowered to make that demeaning comparison because a month ago, without fallout, she told the state's leading ag newspaper that the Stewardship Fund a) was a credit card, b) was not a pot of gold, and c) was an IOU.

Nothing too supportive in these characterizations:

My expectation is, if we use that credit card-and that's what bonding really is-very, very wisely we should only purchase things that are necessary.

"The Stewardship Fund is not a pot of gold; it's an IOU. Just like a credit card, it doesn't always have to be at its limit," she says.

"We're being very careful and are using a new scoring plan (for Stewardship purchases). We want the process to be fair, predictable and transparent. We're using the state's credit card so it's important to use it with extra responsibility," Stepp says.

So it makes sense for Stepp to have moved from these negative comparisons to the next step, as reported by The Country Today:

DNR land could be sold to raise cash

Posted: Wednesday, December 7, 2011 8:18 am | Updated: 8:25 am, Wed Dec 7, 2011. By Jim Massey | Editor | 

Perhaps Stepp has not perused the DNR web page about the Stewardship Fund, as it defines the program quite differently than an agency cash cow, IOU, pot of gold or Visa card:

Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program

What's New

• Report to the Legislature on Purchased Properties
• Grant Required Property Signage

The Wisconsin Legislature created the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program (Stewardship) in 1989 to preserve valuable natural areas and wildlife habitat, protect water quality and fisheries, and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Named for two of Wisconsin's most revered conservation leaders, Warren Knowles (Governor 1965-1971) and Gaylord Nelson (Governor 1959-1963, U.S. Senator 1964-1981), the program has been an outstanding success. Perhaps we can provide no greater gift to the citizens of the 21st century for the places we save today will be a permanent and lasting investment in their future.

We invite you to join in this endeavor.

The conservation and recreation goals of the Stewardship Program are achieved through the acquisition of land and easements, development of recreational facilities, and restoration of wildlife habitat.

The Walkerites have inserted a section at the bottom of the Stewardship page in chart form that catalogs $26 million in cuts and other changes to shrink the program. Some stewardship!

My 'favorite,' and the bold-facing is mine:

After the Walker budget: Any project using $250,000 or more of Stewardship funds (except DNR capital development) must be submitted to the Joint Finance Committee for their consideration. No time limit for committee action

Before the Walker Budget: Beginning July 1, 2010, any project using $750,000 or more of Stewardship funds (except DNR capital development) must be submitted to the Joint Finance Committee for their consideration. Committee must hold a meeting within 14 days.

Why is that my 'favorite?' Because it's so bureaucratically clever. Note that prior to the Walker budget, new proposed land purchases had to be put before the Legislature's fiscal body, the Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) for action within 14 days.

After the Walker budget, the JFC can hold purchase requests without action, indefinitely.

And that's how purchases will be killed and this wonderful publicly-spirited plan will be diminished.

But if you've been degrading it by calling it a credit card, who will complain?

The entire thrust of the mining bill and other initiatives of the Walker administration is to hurry up,. streamline, fast-track and shorten governmental processes.

Unless we're talking about spending money on new land acquisitions, and the dollar amount needing approvals by JFC has been cut by two-thirds - - from $750,000-to-$250,000 - -  so look for fewer actions on even smaller parcels.

What a double-standard.

I'll reproduce the entire chart below, but you might want to read it in the original.

Stewardship in the 2011-13 Biennial Budget

The 2011-13 Biennial Budget was signed into law on June 26, 2011, and is effective as of July 1, 2011. Several changes were made to the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program as part of the 2011-13 Biennial Budget. Those changes are summarized below. All other statutory provisions for the Stewardship Program are unchanged.

Changes made to the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program through the 2011-13 Biennial Budget (effective July 1, 2011)	Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program components before 2011-13 Biennial Budget
Annual Program Appropriation = $60 million	Annual Program Appropriation = $86 million
DNR Property Development subprogram = $25 million total for fiscal years 2011-2012 and 2012-2013. Parking lots, signage, and campsite electrification now eligible costs.	DNR Property Development subprogram = $17 million for fiscal years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.
Local Assistance Grants subprogram = $8 million each in fiscal year 2011-2012 and 2012-2013.	Local Assistance Grants subprogram = $8 million for fiscal years 2009-2010 and $11.5 million for fiscal year 2010-2011.
Annual appropriation not obligated by June 30 each year does not carry over into the next fiscal year.	Any amount of appropriation not obligated each year carries over into next fiscal year.
One-time appropriation of $5.2 million for Purchase of Agriculture Conservation Easements administered by Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).	Not applicable.
One-time appropriation of $6 million for dam safety grants to counties for repair or replacement of dams under DNR orders. Funding may be used between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2020.	Not applicable.
Nonprofit Conservation Organization grants subprogram = $12 million in 2011-2012 and each fiscal year thereafter.	Nonprofit Conservation Organization grants subprogram = $8 million in fiscal year 2009-2010 and $12 million in fiscal year 2010-2011.
The Department may contract with Nonprofit Conservation Organizations for land management activities on state lands.	Contracting for land management also permitted.
The Department must submit a biennial report to Legislative Joint Finance and Natural Resources Committees about status toward f land acquisition acre goals (first report due November 15, 2011).	Not applicable.
Beginning July 1, 2011, value of land acquired for purposes of Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) will be determined by the lower of the purchase price or equalized value of the property.	Since January 1, 1992, the basis for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) is based on Department's purchase price for the land.
Beginning July 1, 2011, the Department is required to notify each city, village, town or county of proposed Stewardship acquisitions within each jurisdiction. These local governments may adopt a non-binding resolution in support of or opposition to the project. The Department is required to consider the resolution, if adopted.	Department notified local officials of Department land transactions. Responded to comments as appropriate.
With the exception of state trails or the Ice Age Trail, "usership patterns" is no longer a reason why the Natural Resources Board (NRB) may approve the prohibition of one or more nature-based outdoor activities (hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, and cross-country skiing).	Beginning Oct 27, 2007, usership patterns, protection of public safety, and protection of unique plant and animal communities were all reasons why the NRB could approve prohibition of one or more nature-based outdoor activities.
Any project using $250,000 or more of Stewardship funds (except DNR capital development) must be submitted to the Joint Finance Committee for their consideration. No time limit for committee action.	Beginning July 1, 2010, any project using $750,000 or more of Stewardship funds (except DNR capital development) must be submitted to the Joint Finance Committee for their consideration. Committee must hold a meeting within 14 days.
Value of properties for grant purposes is the lesser of the fair market value as determined by appraisal or the price paid by seller if purchased less than 3 years ago.	Value of properties for grant purposes is the price paid by seller if purchased less than 3 years ago

 Last Revised: Monday November 21 2011