Reimbursement for Green Bay-area NFL Draft public safety costs dropped from state budget

(WLUK) — Money to help pay for the cost of public safety during this year’s NFL Draft has been dropped from the state budget under discussion.

In April, State Reps. David Steffen, R-Howard, and Ben Franklin, R-De Pere, announced a state budget bill that would provide $1.25 million to Green Bay-area municipalities. 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.

However, State Sen. Jamie Wall, D-Green Bay, said Friday that the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee rejected the plan.

An estimated 600,000 people attended the three-day draft in Green Bay.

The Republican-controlled Legislature is working on its own version of the 2025-27 state budget. After the Joint Finance Committee, the budget then goes to the Legislature, where both the Assembly and Senate must pass identical versions before sending it to Evers for his signature.

The next two-year budget cycle begins on July 1. However, there is no government shutdown if a budget is not signed into law by then; spending continues at current levels until a new budget is approved.