

Over the 10-year period of 2008 to 2018, legislators cut the budget of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) by 36%.





According to a report by the Environmental Integrity Project in Wisconsin $91.4 million was spent on environmental protection 2008, while in 2018 was only $68.9 million.





Across the Midwest, environmental protection spending dropped 25% in Illinois and nearly 19% in Iowa. Spending increased in Minnesota by almost 2% and almost 6% in Michigan.

Wisconsin's Green Fire volunteer and former DNR employee Tom Jerow said he's seen employees leave for nearby states like Minnesota and Michigan which have seen their budgets grow in recent years.

"We had staff leave Wisconsin for Minnesota because it was better job security and better pay," said Jerow.





Environmental Integrity Project Communications Director Tom Pelton said this deduction was drastic.



"That cut was the most in the whole nation more than even Texas and Louisiana," said Pelton.





Pelton said Texas and Louisiana are historically known for smaller environmental protection budgets to give more freedom to the oil and natural gas industries but for Wisconsin, this is a big change.







Jerow said the cuts have affected the quality of life in Wisconsin and make it harder for officials to monitor bodies of water.



"It has real impacts on the quality of life in Wisconsin," said Jerow. "Water is so important to public health for example."



Jerow said these impacts also affect the quality of life of people living in the state.



"Making sure that water is clean and safe for fish, wildlife as well as human beings is a big part of what Wisconsin is," said Jerow.



