Resident warns Brown County commission that $5,000,000 state program may bypass communities in need

A resident told the Brown County Commission during public comment that a recently expanded state program — described by the speaker as distributing an additional $5,000,000 — is not reaching some communities that need infrastructure money. The commenter said some counties appear to have spent all allocated funds while others still hold multi-million-dollar balances, and she urged a change in distribution to target areas with unmet needs.

"We're in the process of distributing another $5,000,000 through the program," the resident said, calling the figures she provided "round numbers" but adding, "I'm confident that they're close." She told commissioners that in the set of 28 counties she examined, five were already at zero — "they're spent out" — while other counties still show substantial balances (the speaker cited a figure she described as about 5.6 million). The resident said the state has put a mechanism in place to reclaim unspent funds and redistribute them, but questioned whether that process will benefit counties such as Brown.

The speaker also raised a local example: she said Brown County expects fewer than 10% of its townships to participate in the program this year, likely leaving only three townships that might use the funds for culvert work. "I don't see how we're gonna spend our money in the 4 townships or 3 townships that are using it, and then then it's just gonna go back," she said, urging commissioners to consider distribution changes so funds go where infrastructure needs are greatest.

The comment drew no formal action during the meeting; commissioners did not vote on or amend any distribution rules. Chair opened the public-comment period and thanked the speaker before moving on to other agenda items.