>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS AA
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS SIGNS THE
BI-ENIALITY STATE BUDGET, BUT
NOT WITHOUT EXECUTING A SLEW OF
PARTIAL VETOES WITH CONSEQUENCES
FOR YEARS TO COME.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WE
SPEAK WITH GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
ABOUT HIS FINAL ACTIONS ON THE
NEARLY $99 BILLION STATE BUDGET.
THE MAYOR OF MADISON JOINS US TO
DISCUSS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND COMING OUT OF THE FOURTH OF
JULY HOLIDAY, WE LOOK AT
RECORD-BREAKING TOURISM IN
WISCONSIN.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JULY
7th.
FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
IN A BREAKING RULING TODAY, A
DANE COUNTY JUDGE SAYS A LAWSUIT
ATTEMPTING TO OVERTURN
WISCONSIN'S 1849 ABORTION BAN
WILL INDEED MOVE FORWARD
FOLLOWING AN ATTEMPT TO DISMISS
THE LAWSUIT.
JUDGE DIANE FLIPPER WROTE IN HER
RULING, QUOTE, THERE IS NO SUCH
THING AS AN 1849 ABORTION BAN IN
WISCONSIN.
A PHYSICIAN WHO PERFORMS A
CONSENSUAL MEDICAL ABORTION
COMMITS A CRIME ONLY AFTER THE
FETUS OR UNBORN CHILD REACHES
VIE ANT.
THE 1849 LAW APPLIES TO FEET
SIISIDE AND NOT CONSENSUAL.
RECORD'S $7 BILLION SURPLUS
MEANT NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND NEW
CHALLENGES FOR LAWMAKERS.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS SIGNED THE
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE'S BUDGET
BUT NOT WITHOUT MAKING SOME
CONSIDERABLE CHANGES WITH HIS
VETO AUTHORITY.
>> THE MONTHS-LONG BUDGET
PROCESS KICKED OFF WITH THE
GOVERNOR RELEASING HIS BUDGET, A
VERITABLE WISH LIST OF
DEMOCRATIC PRIORITIES.
WHEN REPUBLICANS ON THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE GOT THEIR CRACK AT IT,
THEY THREW OUT THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET AND STARTED FROM SCRATCH.
BUT THAT BOILERPLATE POLITICAL
POSTURING WAS CONTRASTED BY
COMPROMISE.
K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION SPENDING
AND SHARED REVENUE FUNDING FOR
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
>> WHAT WE'RE ANNOUNCING TODAY
IS THE SINGLE LARGEST INVESTMENT
IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US
SHOULD BE PROUD OF BECAUSE IT'S
BEING DONE IN A COLLABORATIVE
WISCONSIN BIPARTISAN WAY.
>> G.O.P.-LED BUDGET COMMITTEE
RACED TO FINISH.
ITS WORK INCLUDED A
3.5-BILLION-DOLLAR INCOME TAX
CUT, GIVING THE BIGGEST BREAKS
TO THE HIGHEST EARNERS, A $32
MILLION CUT TO THE UW SYSTEM FOR
DIVERSITY INITIATIVES, AND CUTS
TO THE CHILDCARE COUNTS PROGRAM.
EVERS HAD THREATEN TO VETO THE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET IN ITS
ENTIRETY OVER SUCH PROVISIONS,
BUT, INSTEAD, USED HIS POWERFUL
PARTIAL VETO REDUCE THE INCOME
TAX CUTS FROM 3.5 BILLION TO 175
MILLION BY ELIMINATING TAX CUTS
FOR THE TWO HIGHEST INCOME
BRACKETS AND HE RESTORED THE
188UW POCKETS RELATED TO
DIVERSITY.
>> I HAVE USED MY BROAD VETO
AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS WITH PREDICTABLE
LONG-TERM INCREASES FOR THE
FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
>> FORESEEABLE FUTURE BECAME NOT
TWO YEARS OF A BUDGET, BUT 402
YEARS, BECAUSE EVERS STRUCK
INDIVIDUAL NUMBERS AND
PUNCTUATION TO INCREASE SCHOOL
DISTRICT LEVY LIMITS THROUGH THE
YEYEAR 2425.
REPUBLICANS WERE LIVID, SAYING,
QUOTE CLEARLY NOW THAT HE'S WON
RE-ELECTION BY TAKING CREDIT FOR
REPUBLICAN IDEAS, IT'S BUSINESS
AS USUAL FOR GOVERNOR EVERS AS
HE RETURNS TO HIS TRUE LIBERAL
IDEOLOGY.
HERE TO DISCUSS THE FINAL BUDGET
IS GOVERNOR TONY EVERS.
GOVERNOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING
WITH US.
>> THANKS, FRED TAKE A BREAK. F.
SENATORS SAYING THEY WERE NOT
THE WORK OF A RATIONAL GOVERNOR
BUT A RADICAL.
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> IT'S LAUGHABLE.
WE ACTUALLY CAME TO SOME GOOD
BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS DURING THIS
BUDGET, INCLUDING ISSUES AROUND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TAKING
CARE, AND SHARE REVENUE, GOOD
LORD, WE JUST COMPLETELY MADE
THAT A NEW SYSTEM THAT IS GOING
TO HELP THE MUNICIPALITIES DO
THEIR IMPORTANT WORK.
OTHER WINS, TOO.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIX
OR ROADS AND BRIDGES.
SO THE IDEA THAT SOMEHOW THIS IS
RADICAL IS, IN MY VIEW,
RIDICULOUS.
WE WORKED HARD TO GET TO WHERE
WE COULD.
>> SOME REPUBLICANS, THOUGH, ARE
SAYING THAT YOUR VETO INCREASE
PER PUPIL FUNDING FOR THE NEXT
400 YEARS VIOLATES THE DEAL YOU
MADE WITH THEM OVER SCHOOL
FUNDING, THAT COMPROMISE OF
WHICH YOU SPEAK.
DID IT?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I HEARD THAT AND IT'S A
BREATHTAKING TIME WHEN I HEAR
SOMETHING THAT I JUST KNOW ISN'T
TRUE WHEN THEY'RE SAYING THAT.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS DURING THOSE
NEGOTIATIONS ON SHARED REVENUE,
WE CAME TO SOME AGREEMENTS ON
THE ISSUE OF NEXT TWO YEARS FOR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
NOT THE NEXT 400 YEARS.
THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
AND SO I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY
DURING THE -- WHEN I LOOKED AT
THE BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE SOME SENSE OF RATIONALNESS
GOING FORWARD FOR OUR SCHOOLS,
AND THAT INCLUDES HAVING THAT
REVENUE LIMIT BE FOR SOME TIME,
OBVIOUSLY 400 YEARS, WERE THE
DIGITS THAT I HAD AVAILABLE TO
ME, BUT DID THAT VIOLATE
ANYTHING?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
IT'S KIND OF SAD AT THIS POINT
IN TIME, WE'RE REACHING SOME
AGREEMENTS, AND FOR PEOPLE TO GO
OFF THE LEDGE HERE.
JUST RELAX, FOLKS.
I BROKE NO PROMISES HERE.
>> AND YET THAT LEVY LIMIT
INCREASES GOING OUT 402 YEARS.
I MEAN, WHY DID YOU DO THAT?
>> TO GIVE SOME -- WELL, FIRST
OF ALL, AS YOU KNOW, OTHER
GOVERNORS HAVE DONE THIS ALSO.
WHEN SCOTT WALKER WAS GOVERNOR,
HE USED IT TO BRING THAT SAME
NUMBER TO ZERO, AS I REMEMBER,
OVER I THINK A THOUSAND YEARS.
SO IT'S NOT UNUSUAL.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE TO A GOVERNOR AND HE
OR SHE GOING FORWARD SHOULD BE
ABLE TO USE IT JUST LIKE I DID.
IT GIVES OUR SCHOOLS SOME NOTION
OF REALITY THAT THE LEGISLATURE
AND THE GOVERNOR IS GOING
FORWARD -- GOVERNORS GOING
FORWARD WILL CONSIDER EDUCATION
A TOP PRIORITY.
>> I DON'T THINK VERY MANY
PEOPLE WERE SURPRISED THAT YOU
VETOED THE INCOME TAX CUT FOR
THE TOP BRACKET, BUT YOU ALSO
VETOED IT FOR THE THIRD BRACKET,
FOR COUPLES MAKING $36,000.
ISN'T THAT THE MIDDLE CLASS THAT
YOU WANTED TO SEE GET A TAX CUT?
>> FIRST OF ALL, THE MIDDLE
CLASS DID GET A TAX CUT IN THIS,
PRIMARILY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF
$1.75 MILLION, BUT THAT SAME
AREA THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT,
THE SAME, IS GOES UP THROUGH I
THINK $400,000, WHICH I DON'T
BELIEVE IN ANYBODY'S GUESSTIMATE
WOULD BE CONSIDERED MIDDLE
CLASS.
THE BOTTOM LINE HERE, BY DOING
THE VETO AS I DID, EVERYBODY GOT
A TAX CUT.
EVERYBODY.
WEALTHY, POOR, PEOPLE IN THE
MIDDLE.
MOSTLY PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE GOT
THE BEST DEAL.
I FEEL GOOD, I FEEL CONFIDENT
ABOUT THAT.
WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER WITH THE
LEGISLATURE OVER THE PAST
SEVERAL YEARS TO BRING 1.5
BILLION DOLLARS IN TAX CUTS,
ALMOST THE VAST MAJORITY OF THAT
FOR MIDDLE CLASS FOLKS IN
WISCONSIN.
>> SO THAT THIRD TAX BRACKET
GOES FROM 36,000 ALL THE WAY UP
TO 405,000, AS YOU MENTIONED,
FOR MARRIED COUPLES.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT BREAKING THAT
UP INTO SEPARATE TAX BRACKETS IN
ORDER TO MORE PRECISELY TARGET
RELIEF FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS?
>> YES, AND I'M HOPEFULLY THE
LEGISLATURE -- WE HAVE SOME
OPTIONS GOING FORWARD.
THERE'S PLENTY OF MONEY LEFT IN
OUR RESERVES, AND THEY WANT TO
BRING SOMETHING BACK, BUT IF
IT'S THE SAME OLD SAME OLD, IF
IT'S ABOUT LET'S HELP THE
WEALTHY AND NOT THE MIDDLE
CLASS, THEN THAT'S GOING TO BE A
PROBLEM AND I'LL LIKELY VETO
THAT.
BUT, YEAH, OF COURSE, THAT'S A
BIG SPAN AND I WILL SAVE THAT
405,000 DOLLARS IS NOT MIDDLE
CLASS.
>> SO AS TO KIND OF RESERVES
GOING FORWARD AND THE USE OF
THEM, YOU CALLED OUT CHILDCARE
CENTER FUNDING AS A
DISAPPOINTMENT.
YOU WANTED $340 MILLION.
REPUBLICANS APPROVED $15
MILLION.
YOU SAY, AGAIN, THAT YOU LEFT
ENOUGH MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR
THE LEGISLATURE TO GO BACK IN
AND FUND THAT AND OTHER THINGS
LIKE FAMILY LEAVE, WHICH ARE
PRIORITIES FOR YOU.
REPORTEDLY THERE'S SOMETHING
LIKE $3 BILLION TO START THE
NEXT BUDGET.
BUT WHY, GOVERNOR, WOULD
REPUBLICANS, THE REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATURE, SPEND ON YOUR
PRIORITIES IF THEY DIDN'T HERE
IN THE FIRST INSTANCE?
>> WELL, THEY'RE GOING TO WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN.
I MEAN, IT'S CLEAR THAT WE'RE AT
ALMOST FULL EMPLOYMENT.
AND AS I DEAL WITH CHILDCARE
PROVIDERS ALMOST EVERY SINGLE
DAY, THERE'S GOING TO BE A WHOLE
BUNCH OF THEM GOING OUT OF
BUSINESS OR REDUCING THE NUMBER
OF CHILDREN THAT THEY CAN TAKE
CARE OF BECAUSE IT'S NOT A
SUSTAINABLE SITUATION WITHOUT
SOME HELP FROM THE STATE
GOVERNMENT.
SO AS WE DO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO
LOSE PEOPLE OUT OF THE
WORKFORCE, AND THAT IS A BIG
DEAL, NOT JUST FOR REPUBLICANS.
IT'S A BIG DEAL FOR DEMOCRATS
ALSO.
AND SO, YES, I'M HOPEFUL THAT
THEY'LL TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT
THAT.
IT'S A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR
US TO DO THE RIGHT THING, MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE A WORKFORCE
THAT'S GOING TO WORK FOR
EVERYBODY, AND MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK IF IT'S PUT TOGETHER IN
A GOOD BIPARTISAN WAY, WE CAN
MAKE SOME HEADWAY.
>> AS TO FUNDING FUNDING FOR HIR
EDUCATION, YOU RESTORED THE 188
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
POSITIONS WITH A VETO BUT SAID
THAT THE UW SYSTEM COULD
RECAPTURE THAT $32 MILLION CUT
FROM THE LEGISLATURE WITH A
WORKFORCE PLAN BUT IS NOW
SPEAKER VOS SAYS AFTER THAT VETO
RESTORING THE 188 POSITIONS, THE
UW WILL NOT GET THE MONEY UNLESS
IT ELIMINATES DIVERSITY
PROGRAMS.
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> WELL, THAT'S NOT WHAT THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE SAID.
THEY SAID THERE'S $32 MILLION IF
YOU BRING US BACK A WORKFORCE
PLAN, WE WILL CONSIDER RELEASING
THAT TO THEM.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THEY SAY A
WORKFORCE PLAN AND LET'S GET RID
OF THE -- I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S
WHAT WAS PUT IN THERE, SO I
ANTICIPATE THAT THE UNIVERSITY
OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM AND JOINT
FINANCE COMMITTEE, THEY CAN WORK
IT OUT.
>> WHAT ABOUT OVERALL FUNDING
FOR HIGHER H ED IN THIS BUDGET?
>> IT'S RIDICULOUS.
OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN'T HAVE THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM
OR, FRANKLY, THE TECHNICAL
COLLEGE SYSTEM, BE, YOU KNOW,
HAVE NO INCREASE.
THEY HAVE COSTS JUST LIKE
EVERYBODY ELSE.
I WOULD SAY THAT, UNFORTUNATELY,
WHERE THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN
FOR SEVERAL BUDGETS THAT I'VE
BEEN WORKING ON AND EVEN BEFORE,
HAVING BEEN PERSONALLY ON THE
BOARD OF REGENTS, AND THAT IS
THERE'S LIKE THIS WAR AGAINST
HIGHER EDUCATION.
IT'S GOT TO STOP.
IF WE CARE ABOUT WORKFORCE, WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
COLLEGE SYSTEM AND OUR
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM
IS STRONG.
>> YOU AND THE REPUBLIC MAJORITY
COMPROMISED ON SCHOOL FUNDING
AND SHARED REVENUE.
IS THAT GOODWILL GONE NOW WITH
YOUR VETOES?
>> NO, NO.
REPUBLICANS MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN,
BUT REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS VETOED
THINGS ALSO.
BUT, NO, I DON'T THINK SO.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER
WHERE WE CAN AND THERE'S GOING
TO BE THIS KIND OF BLAH, BLAH,
BLAH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF
WEEKS THAT THE SKY IS FALLING,
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
HERE'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE MADE SOME PROGRESS IN SOME
REALLY IMPORTANT AREAS.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
HOPEFULLY TALK ABOUT AREAS THAT
HAVE BEEN LEFT FALLOW, AND THAT
INCLUDES HIGHER EDUCATION AND
CHILDCARE IN PARTICULAR, AND
WE'LL MOVE FORWARD AS A STATE.
AND SO I -- YOU KNOW, I'M NOT
GOING TO OVERREACT TO THAT.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO
WORKING WITH PEOPLE AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE.
>> WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST VETO THE
BUDGET IN ITS ENTIRETY?
>> I KNEW THAT WE COULD MOVE
FORWARD, I KNEW THAT WE COULD
MAKE SOME VETOES THAT WOULD MAKE
THINGS EVEN A LITTLE BETTER, AND
IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
SIMPLE AS THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANKS.
>> THE BUDGET ALSO INCLUDED $525
MILLION TOWARD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN WISCONSIN.
HOUSING IS SORELY NEEDED IN THIS
STATE WITH EXPERTS SAYING
WISCONSIN WILL NEED TO BUILD
NEARLY 140,000 HOUSING UNITS
DURING THIS DECADE TO
ACCOMMODATE ITS UNDER 65
POPULATION.
IN MADISON, THE FASTEST GROWING
CITY IN THE STATE, THE COST OF
HOUSING, BOTH RENTING AND
BUYING, IS OUT OF REACH FOR
MANY.
NEEDED HOUSING UNITS FALL WAY
SHORT OF DEMAND DUE TO
POPULATION GROWTH.
MADISON GAINED 5,600 RESIDENTS
JUST SINCE 2020.
THE CAPITAL CITY IS ONE OF THE
MOST EXPENSIVE PLACES IN THE
STATE TO BUY A HOME, AND BECAUSE
THE CITY'S RENTAL VACANCY RATE
IS SO LOW, DEMAND PUSHES THE
AVERAGE COST OF A ONE BEDROOM
OVER $1,400 A MONTH, ACCORDING
TO RENTAL SITES.
EFFORTS TO BOOST AFFORDABLE
HOUSING MAKE A DENT.
WE TURN TO MADISON MAYOR SATYA
RHODES-CONWAY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WILL THE FIVE MEASURES IN
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PACKAGE
THAT ARE PART OF THE BUDGET
BETWEEN FUNDING TO REHAB OR
CONVERTING COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
INTO HOUSING HELP THE CRUNCH IN
MADISON?
>> I CERTAINLY HOPE SO.
I THINK WE HAVE BEEN DOING
PERHAPS MORE THAN OTHER CITY
AROUND THE STATE HAVE IN TERMS
OF THE PRODUCTION OF HOUSING, SO
IT DOESN'T CHANGE A LOT FOR US
IN TERMS OF WHAT THE CITY DOES,
BUT ANY TIME THERE'S MORE FUNDS
AVAILABLE TO PRODUCE HOUSING,
THAT'S HELPFUL.
>> SO WHAT ARE YOUR CITY'S
PARTICULAR PAIN POINTS WHEN IT
COMES TO NOT HAVING ENOUGH
HOUSING?
>> I THINK REALLY WHAT WE'RE
FACING IS THAT HISTORICALLY, AND
I'M TALKING FOR DECADES, MADISON
HAS UNDERPRODUCED HOUSING.
WE HAVE NOT KEPT PACE WITH
POPULATION GROWTH.
YOU REFERENCED OUR RECENT
POPULATION GROWTH, BUT WE HAVE
BEEN GROWING AS A CITY FOR QUITE
SOME TIME, AND WE JUST HAVE NOT
PRODUCED ENOUGH HOUSING UNITS.
THAT'S WHY WE FIND OURSELVES IN
THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE IN NOW
AND REALLY THE SOLUTION IS TO
BUILD MORE HOUSING.
WHEN I SAY THAT, I MEAN EVERY
TYPE OF HOUSING.
WE NEED MORE FAMILY, WE NEED
MORE CONDOS, WE NEED MORE
APARTMENTS, WE NEED BIG
BUILDINGS, SMALL BUILDINGS, AND
SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO ANYTHING
WE CAN TO MAKE IT EASIER TO
PRODUCE HOUSING.
>> LIKE WHAT?
>> SO WE'VE DONE A NUMBER OF
THINGS AROUND OUR ZONING CODE TO
MAKE IT EASIER TO BUILD HOUSING
BY RIGHT AND/OR TO ADD
ADDITIONAL HEIGHT IF YOU'RE
BUILDING HOUSING OR IF YOU'RE
BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE'VE MADE IT EASIER TO BUILD
BACKYARD COTTAGES AND WE DO A
BUNCH AROUND SUBSIDIZING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OUT OF THE
CITY'S BUDGET AS WELL, AND THEN
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH PARTNERS,
WHETHER THAT'S DEVELOPERS, THE
UNIVERSITY, YOU KNOW, OTHER
ENTITIES IN TOWN TO ENCOURAGE
THE PRODUCTION OF HOUSING IN
DIFFERENT AREAS OF TOWN.
>> AND YET IT SEEMS LIKE YOU
NEED THEY SAY HOUSING UNITS TO
GO UP RIGHT NOW.
>> YES!
>> ALL OF THAT TAKES A LONG LEAD
TIME.
>> YEAH.
WE DO SEE PRODUCTS TAKE TWO TO
THREE YEARS, REALLY, TO COME TO
FRUITION.
AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S BEEN SO
IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK AS FAST
AS WE CAN NOW TO MAKE IT EASIER
SO THAT WE START TO SEE THE
IMPACTS THAT HAVE GOING FORWARD.
I WILL SAY THAT UNDER MY
ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE
PERMITTED THOUSANDS OF HOUSING
UNITS AND WE HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS COME
ON-LINE SO WE'RE MAKING
PROGRESS, BUT THERE'S MORE THAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE.
>> ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT
WHEN YOU DRIVE AROUND OR WALK
AROUND MADISON, IS ALL OF THESE
KIND OF LUXURY HIGH-RISE
APARTMENT BUILDINGS GOING IN.
NOW THAT GIVES YOU SOME UNITS,
IT GIVES YOU SOME VACANCY, BUT
DO THOSE BUILDINGS RATCHET UP
THE RENTS FOR EVERYONE?
>> WELL, SO A COUPLE OF THINGS
THERE FIRST OF ALL, YOU SEE
THOSE BUILDINGS AND YOU THINK
THEY'RE LUXURY BUILDINGS BUT, IN
FACT, NOT ALL OF THEM ARE.
IN FACT, MANY OF THEM HAVE
AFFORDABLE COMPONENTS INSIDE
THAT BUILDING.
SO WHEN WE'RE SUBSIDIZING
HOUSING, WE ARE OFTEN NOT
CREATING AN ENTIRE BUILDING
THAT'S AFFORDABLE BUT WE ARE
CREATING A PERCENTAGE OF THE
UNITS IN THAT BUILDING.
AND SO THAT DEFINITELY HELPS.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT THERE'S
ACTUALLY GOOD DATA THAT PUTTING
IN NEW MARKET RATE HOUSING DOES
NOT RAISE THE RENTS OF
SURROUNDING THEM, AVAILABLE
HOUSING.
NOW, WHAT IS CAUSING RENT
PRESSURE IS THE LACK OF UNITS.
BECAUSE WHEN LANDLORDS CAN RENT
FOR A HIGHER RENT, THEY'RE GOING
TO.
AS LONG AS WE HAVE VACANCY RATES
IN THE ONE OR TWO PERCENT, THE
MARKET IS ENTIRELY TIPPED TO THE
LANDLORD'S FAVOR AS OPPOSED TO
THE TENANT.
>> SO THIS IS NOT TO MENTION LOW
INCOME HOUSING.
HOW WOULD YOU GRADE MADISON ON
THAT?
>> SO WE NEED ALL TYPES OF
HOUSING, BUT WE PARTICULARLY
NEED TO BE CREATING HOUSING THAT
IS AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE THAT
ARE 30% OR LOWER OF THE AREA
MEDIAN INCOME.
AND INTERESTINGLY, THAT PEOPLE
THAT ARE BETWEEN 80 AND 120% OF
AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
THOSE ARE THE TWO PLACES WHERE
WE SEE THE BIGGEST NEED, AND SO
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO
FOCUS THE WORK OF THE CITY DOES
TO PRODUCE HOUSING.
>> SO IF AS PROJECTED MADISON IS
EXPECTED TO GROW BY ANOTHER
100,000 PEOPLE BY 2050, WHAT
WILL THE HOUSINGSCAPE LOOK LIKE
THEN?
>> WELL, I HOPE THAT WE WILL
HAVE CAUGHT UP IN OUR DEFICIT OF
HOUSING AND THAT WE WILL KEEP
PACE WITH HOUSING PRODUCTION.
IT DOES MEAN THAT MADISON IS
GOING TO BE MORE DENSE AND THAT
WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE HIGH
BUILDINGS, DUPLEXES, BUT I THINK
IT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO CATCH
UP WITH THE HOUSING MARKET.
>> MAYOR SATYA RHODES-CONWAY,
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN
WISCONSIN HIT AN ALL-TIME HIGH
IN 2022.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO A RECENT
REPORT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT
OF TOURISM WITH A TOTAL ECONOMIC
IMPACT OF ALMOST $24 BILLION.
ALL 72 COUNTIES HAVE AN INCREASE
OVER THE LAST RECORD-BREAKING
YEAR IN 2019, INCLUDING
BAYFIELD, WHOSE TOURIST DOLLARS
SAW A 24% INCREASE.
COMING OUT OF THE BIG FOURTH OF
JULY HOLIDAY, WE CHECK IN WITH
KATI ANDERSON FROM THE BAYFIELD
CHAMBER AND VISITOR'S BUREAU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO HOW IS THE TOURIST SEASON
SHAPING UP IN BAYFIELD THIS
SUMMER?
>> WELL, WE'RE RIGHT IN THE
THICK OF IT NOW.
TOURISM HERE REALLY RAMPS UP
AROUND MID JUNE, JULY, AUGUST,
ARE OUR BUSIEST MONTHS HERE IN
BAYFIELD.
SEPTEMBER AS WELL HAS A LOT OF
GREAT TOURISM ACTIVITIES GOING
ON.
WE HAVE SOME NEW EVENTS, AN ART
ESCAPE EVENT IN THE MIDDLE OF
SEPTEMBER AND THEN, OF COURSE,
GOING INTO OCTOBER, WE HAVE OUR
BAYFIELD APPLE FESTIVAL, WHICH
IS ALWAYS THE FIRST FULL WEEKEND
IN OCTOBER.
>> SO HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO
YEARS PAST FOR TOURISM?
>> SURE.
SO, WELL, THIS YEAR WE WON'T
KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE
EXACTLY FOR 2023 UNTIL NEXT
YEAR, BUT THE -- AS YOU HAD
MENTIONED, WE BROKE SOME RECORDS
HERE.
IT WAS A 24% INCREASE IN TOURISM
SPENDING OVER 2019, AND EVEN IN
2022, WE ALSO KEPT OUR TOURISM
SPENDING IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH IS
TECHNICALLY A SHOULDER SEASON
WITH THE LAUNCH OF A NEW EVENT
CALLED ART ESCAPE, AND WE WERE
ABLE TO BRING IN ANOTHER -- AN
ADDITIONAL $700,000 TO THE
BAYFIELD COUNTY ISLAND AREA
THROUGH THAT EVENT, ART ESCAPE,
AND THIS YEAR WE'RE DOING THAT
AGAIN.
IT WILL BE OUR SECOND YEAR DOING
THAT AND IT'S SEPTEMBER 9th
THROUGH 17th, SO WE HAVE SOME
NEW INITIATIVES, WHICH IS
HELPING BRING IN MORE PEOPLE AND
HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE THAT
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, BUT EVEN
SINCE, YOU KNOW, 2020, BAYFIELD
REALLY SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE COME
HERE IN 2020 TO GET AWAY FROM
THE CITY AND ACTIVITIES, SO
WE'RE STILL SEEING THAT
MOMENTUM.
>> SO YOU'RE SUPER BUSY AND
BAYFIELD IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO
VISIT, BUT ARE LOCAL BUSINESSES
ABLE TO KEEP UP?
>> WELL, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES
HERE IS FINDING WORKERS.
WE ARE NOTICING THAT AND IT'S
KIND OF A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD
BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO
LIVE HERE BUT THE PROBLEM SEEMS
TO BE HOUSING.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF OPTIONS
HERE IN BAYFIELD COUNTY FOR
HOUSING, BUT THOSE ARE SOME
INITIATIVES THAT WE ARE HOPING
TO PARTNER WITH SOME LOCAL OTHER
ENTITIES TO TRY TO HELP SPUR
THAT.
>> OKAY.
I KNOW THAT THE STATE BUDGET
THAT JUST WAS SIGNED INTO LAW
HAS SOME MONEY IN IT FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM.
WHAT MORE COULD AREAS LIKE YOURS
USE FROM THE STATE?
I MEAN, YOU JUST SPOKE TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR HOUSING
UNITS, PERIOD.
WHAT MORE COULD THE STATE
POSSIBLY DO?
>> I THINK THE HOUSING IS REALLY
THE BIGGEST PIECE RIGHT NOW.
ONE THING THAT WAS REALLY
ENCOURAGING HERE IN BAYFIELD, A
LOT OF BUSINESSES AND NEW
BUSINESSES POPPED UP WITHIN THE
LAST YEAR OR TWO AND THAT WAS
DUE TO THE MAIN STREET BALANCE
BACK GRANT.
WE HAD SEVERAL BUSINESSES HERE,
A GOOD I KNOW FOUR OFF THE TOP
OF MY HEAD FOR SURE WHO TOOK
ADVANTAGE OF THE $10,000
FUNDING.
SO THINGS LIKE THAT, INITIATIVES
LIKE THAT DO REALLY WELL, COULD
REALLY HELP US FOR ECONOMIC
GROWTH HERE IN BAYFIELD,
ESPECIALLY IN BAYFIELD COUNTY
WHERE OUR MAIN INDUSTRY HERE IS
TOURISM.
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
WELL, WE ARE ENVIOUS THAT WE ARE
NOT IN BAYFIELD WITH YOU.
YOU SAID THE WEATHER IS
BEAUTIFUL TODAY, BUT ENJOY THIS
BUSY SEASON AND EVEN THE SEASON
GOING INTO THE FALL.
KATI ANDERSON, THANKS SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN AGRICULTURE, SOUTHERN
WISCONSIN HAS SEEN SEVERE AND
EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT, WITH SPOTTY
RAIN AND HIGH TEMPERATURES
TESTING FARMERS' PATIENCE, BUT
THEY ARE HOLDING ON.
>> MOTHER NATURE SEEMS TO BE
KEEPING US ON THE EDGE OF OUR
SEAT THIS WHOLE TIME.
WE'RE GET JUST ENOUGH SPOTTY
PRECIPITATION TO KEEP US
GUESSING, KEEP US WONDERING IF
WE'RE GOING TO -- HOW THINGS ARE
GOING TO PLAY OUT, BUT SO FAR,
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED
WITH THE CROPS.
MODERN GENETICS AND MANAGEMENT
HAS REALLY PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN
THE SUCCESS THAT THE -- OR
THE -- AT LEAST THE LACK OF, YOU
KNOW, CROP FAILURE, I GUESS
WE'VE SEEN SO FAR.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CORN AND BEANS
DRYING UP ON THE LATER GROUND
THAT HAS BEEN SORT OF UNLUCKY
WITH THOSE SPOTTY SHOWERS, BUT
THEN WE HAVE SOME GROUND THAT IS
JUST HANGING ON AND YOU WOULDN'T
QUITE KNOW WE'RE IN A DROUGHT,
AT LEAST FROM LOOKING AT IT FROM
AFAR.
WE'RE JUST RIGHT ON THE EDGE
THERE, I GUESS.
I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO WORRY
YET.
THERE'S NO NEED FOR MASS PANIC.
THERE'S NEVER A GOOD TIME TO
HAVE A DROUGHT, BUT IF YOU HAVE
A DROUGHT, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE IT
IN THE EARLY HALF OF THE SEASON.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN.ORG
AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
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