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Week of May 1, 2023
Countdown to legislative passage of the 2023-25 state budget begins!
On May 2nd, the GOP-controlled Joint Committee on Finance Committee (JFC) met for the first time to begin crafting a state biennial budget that reflects their goals and priorities. JFC votes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays over the next few weeks, with the final vote scheduled for Thursday, June 15th.
Importantly, it appears that talent attraction will be a key focus of the Republican state budget blueprint.
We couldn’t have asked for a better segue to the creative economy state budget proposals being backed by Create Wisconsin and the newly formed Wisconsin's Creative Economy Coalition! We know that Wisconsin’s arts and cultural assets are more important than ever to revitalize the economy, develop a 21st century workforce and incubate, attract and retain talent, provide opportunities for all, and help our communities, large and small, thrive.
CALL TO ACTION
Over the past few weeks, important strides have been made in raising awareness of the importance of an increased state investment in the arts, culture, and creativity.
- In April, dedicated advocates testified at JFC budget hearings in Minocqua, Waukesha and Eau Claire about the need for a greater state investment in the creative economy.
UPDATE ON 2023-25 STATE BUDGET PROPOSALS
Wisconsin Artistic Endowment Fund
As part of his 2023-25 state budget recommendations, Governor Tony Evers proposed a historic one-time investment of $100 million in the Artistic Endowment Fund. The Fund was established in 2001 as part of a Legislative Council Study of Arts Funding.
On May 2nd, a GOP JFC motion stripped 545 of Governor Evers’ priorities from the state budget, including the proposed $100 million investment in the Wisconsin Artistic Endowment Fund. Republicans also cut off the proposals from being added back to the budget over the coming weeks as the committee completes its work. We knew that we faced an uphill battle to keep Governor Evers’ recommendation intact. In 2019 and 2021, the GOP took a similar approach when the Joint Finance Committee voted to take the budget back to base, meaning they will work off existing state law as they build the 2023-25 document.
The removal of the Artistic Endowment Fund provision should not be seen in any way as a lack of appreciation for the Creative Economy Coalition or the impact this sector has on the economy and vibrancy of the state. It was a tremendous opportunity to educate legislative leaders and key decision makers on the impact of the industry on the state and the potential, if properly supported, in inccubating, retaining and attracting talent and investment to our state’s communities.
The Coalition and its advisors have already moved quickly to identify Republican champions interested in crafting a revised proposal to utilize one-time state surplus monies to support creative organizations, individuals and activities. Many of the members of the Joint Finance Committee have expressed interest in next step discussions. This is what advocacy is all about - you pivot and keep moving forward. STAY TUNED, MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW!
Rural Wisconsin Creative Economy Grant Program
A 2023-25 Biennial Budget Motion from Representative Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville) and Senator Romaine Quinn (R-Cameron) would establish the Rural Creative Economy Grant Program to be administered by the Wisconsin Arts Board. The proposed $1 million biennial appropriation would provide much needed state support to economic development and promotional organizations and local government agencies for the purpose of cultural planning and creative economic development programs. Eligible projects will serve the rural creative economy and creative industries through:
● Job and business creation and capacity-building
● Workforce training and development
● Community and sector planning, development and engagement
● Products or services with artistic, cultural, creative, or aesthetic qualities
Current cosponsors of the motion are: Representatives Dave Armstrong (R-Rice Lake), James Edming (R-Glen Flora), Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay), Jeff Mursau (R-Crivitz), Loren Oldenburg (R-Viroqua), Jon Plumer (R-Lodi), Donna Rozar (R-Marshfield), Patrick Snyder (R-Schofield), Ron Tusler (R-Harrison) and Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City).
Please send a message to your State Senator and State Representative to ask that they cosponsor and support the Rural Wisconsin Creative Economy Grant Program Budget Motion. Find contact information for your state legislators here. Don't forget to personalize your message and sign with your name, organization/business, and address.
Sample Message:
Subject: Please cosponsor and support Rural Creative Economy Grant Program Budget Motion
I am writing to respectfully ask that you cosponsor and support the Rural Creative Economy Grant Program Budget motion from Representative Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville) and Senator Romaine Quinn (R-Cameron). While the population challenges facing Wisconsin’s rural communities are real, there is impressive energy and hard work on the local level to help communities like ours thrive. People, organizations, and businesses are collaborating to develop a diverse, authentic, economy featuring vibrant creative businesses, harnessing culture, arts, and places, and moving forward with the mindset that businesses grow in communities that are attractive for their owners, managers, and workforce. This program would provide resources needed to accelerate and strengthen that work throughout the state. Ultimately, the goal of this bill is to contribute to positive changes in employment, wages and quality of place in rural areas. Thank you for your consideration, I look forward to hearing from you!
Wisconsin Arts Board Matching NEA Grant Funding
Governor Tony Evers’ proposal to increase National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) matching grant funding for the Wisconsin Arts Board by $552,500 GPR over the biennium remains in the GOP base budget document. These matching dollars will allow the state to maximize the drawdown of available federal funds and continue supporting individuals and organizations engaged in the arts. This $552,500 from the state’s general purpose revenue (GPR) over the coming two years ($337,200 in FY 24, and $215,300 in FY 25) would allow the Arts Board to make its required state funding match for its National Endowment for the Arts grant in each year of the coming biennium without having to make a 13.10 request of the Joint Committee on Finance. It will be a much cleaner, smoother and cost-efficient process.
TIMELINE
Joint Finance Committee Deliberations on 2023-25 State Budget:
- Voting began on Tuesday, May 2nd. Committee votes will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- The Committee will not meet the week of May 8th.
- Updated state fiscal outlook will be available on May 15th.
- The last committee vote is scheduled for Thursday, June 15th.
- During the week of June 19th the Legislative Reference Bureau & Legislative Fiscal Bureau will finish the drafting of the budget bill based on Joint Finance Committee action.
- Both the Assembly and Senate plan on taking up the budget bill the week of June 26th, delivering the bill to the Governor before the end of the fiscal year, which is June 30.
- Gov. Evers will sign the budget into law by June 30.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT
TOWARDS A GREATER STATE INVESTMENT IN
WISCONSIN’S CREATIVE ECONOMY!
Please contact Create Wisconsin Executive Director Anne Katz with questions or comments at or akatz@createwisconsin.org, or (608) 255-8316.
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