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WCA legislative update: counties win modest court funds, PFAS trust funds advance
Summary
Colin Driscoll of the Wisconsin County Association told the Eau Claire County Board that counties received $10 million a year for courts (well below a $70M request) and that a $125 million PFAS trust fund has passed the Assembly, with program details awaiting the Senate.
Colin Driscoll, a government affairs associate with the Wisconsin County Association, briefed the Eau Claire County Board on the state legislative session in Madison, summarizing budget outcomes and pending bills. "We ended up coming out of that budget with $10,000,000 a year for courts," Driscoll said, noting WCA had sought $70 million; he added that many county priorities did not make it through a legislature wary of new spending.
Driscoll ran through specific measures of interest to counties: a fees, fines and forfeitures bill that would let counties retain more revenue and is on the governor’s desk; a utility aid payment bill expanding the formula to include battery/energy storage and LNG facilities; and a package of PFAS provisions that, if enacted, would fund mitigation and testing. "That $125,000,000 is going to go out the door," Driscoll said of the PFAS trust fund under Assembly action, while cautioning the board the Senate must still act. He provided allocation figures discussed in the Assembly—$79,500,000 for community grants, $35,000,000 for well compensation, and $5,000,000 for airports—and said WCA expects program rules and distribution processes to follow.
Board members pressed staff for implications at the county level and asked how WCA prioritizes county asks. Driscoll said WCA pursues what is politically feasible in the current legislature and will keep counties informed, offering to take specific follow-up questions by email. He also outlined bills that stalled (real-estate transfer fee change) and others that could reshape local planning rules and stewardship funding. "We utilize you guys — your employees and your members — as experts," he said, urging supervisors to provide technical input to strengthen county positions.
What happens next: Driscoll said some items are headed to the governor, others await Senate action, and WCA will continue to lobby on outstanding bills. The board was directed to county WCA resources and invited to send questions to Driscoll and his colleagues.
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