Joint Finance Listening Sessions
Recently, Governor Tony Evers released his biennial budget proposal which includes allocating $18.5 million of federal funding for investments in trails and other safe walking and biking infrastructure across the Badger State.
In addition to an overall increase in funding, a $1.2 million-dollar state-sponsored fund was proposed that would aid rural communities in meeting the “20% local match” requirement that comes with receiving Transportation Alternative Program funding. While this is very promising news, there will be an on-going process between now and mid-summer as the legislature debates what components of the Governor’s budget should still be included in the final state budget.
The best way to get our message across is to attend the statewide Joint Finance Committee Listening Sessions and let legislators know that these proposals MUST be kept in the budget.
Please, consider attending one of the following Budget Listening Sessions:
- 10 am – 5 pm: Wednesday, April 5 – Waukesha, Waukesha County Expo Center, Main Arena, 1000 Northview Rd, Waukesha
- 10 am – 5 pm: Tuesday, April 11 – Eau Claire, UW-Eau Claire, Davies Student Center, Ojibwe Grand Ballroom (Third Floor), 77 Roosevelt Ave., Eau Claire
- 10 am – 5 pm: Wednesday, April 12 – Wisconsin Dells, Wilderness Resort, Glacier Canyon Conference Center, Sandstone Meeting Room, 45 Hillman Road, Wisconsin Dells
- 10 am – 5 pm: Wednesday, April 26 – Minocqua, Lakeland Union High School, 9573 State Highway 70, Minocqua
We invite you to reach out to our Government Affairs Manager, collin@wisconsinbikefed.org, if you have any questions or would like to request additional information in advance of a listening session. We are including some resources below, to give you a jump start on talking points:
League of American Bicyclists – Wisconsin Scorecard
Wisconsin Bike Fed – Budget “Asks” One-Pager
Additionally, Wisconsinites may access the online portal to submit testimony which will be circulated to all 16 committee members: https://legis.wisconsin.gov/topics/budgetcomments/ as well as a dedicated email address: budget.comments@legis.wisconsin.gov.
If you are unable to make it to a listening session, there are still great opportunities to be an advocate! Another very effective way of letting your voice be heard is to send a letter to your legislator. Please follow this link to tell your legislators that this funding is necessary for the overall benefit of communities across the state.