BELLEVUE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Two Northeast Wisconsin lawmakers want the state to kick in more than a million dollars to help cover the costs of public safety for next week’s NFL Draft.
State Reps. David Steffen, R-Howard, and Ben Franklin, R-De Pere, announced a state budget bill Monday that would provide $1.25 million to local municipalities. Of that, $75,000 would go to Ashwaubenon Public Safety, $500,000 to the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, $475,000 to the Green Bay Police Department and $200,000 to the Green Bay Metro Fire Department.
The Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association supports this funding ask. “Providing local law enforcement with the right tools is essential for keeping communities safe during large events. Proper resources help manage crowds effectively and ensure a smooth and safe event,” said Kelly Bakken, President of the WCPA and Police Chief for Altoona.
Steffen and Franklin say this money would cover two-thirds of the expected costs of keeping the thousands of visitors safe during the draft.
Separately, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers included $1 million for the city of Green Bay in his 2025-27 state budget proposal to help offset costs associated with the draft. The Republican-controlled Legislature is currently working on its own version of the budget — which Steffen says does not include Evers’ $1 million proposal — and is expected to deliver the final product to Evers for his signature this summer.
“I feel confident with my initial communications with his office already this morning that there’ll be support for this,” said State Rep. Steffen.
Democratic State Senator Jamie Wall said he would welcome lawmakers asking for additional money.
“It is a significant impact on their budgets and it would be great, as I’ve said, for the state to help make them whole for an event that’s going to have an impact not just on our area here but, you know, an awful lot of other businesses and people and taxpayers in Wisconsin,” said Wall.
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