Gov. Evers visits Durand Area Food Pantry, highlights need for food assistance

DURAND, Wis. (WEAU) - As Governor Tony Evers prepares to close out his last term, he’s highlighting the need for food assistance during this holiday season.

Evers paid a visit to the Durand Area Food Pantry on Tuesday to thank workers and volunteers.

The Governor’s office says the state budget includes $10 million for a program that helps food pantries buy food from Wisconsin producers.

With a new Governor and new legislative session coming up, Evers says he hopes state lawmakers will help lower costs for Wisconsinites in the grocery store and beyond.

“Because the state does need to put more money into the schools. There’s no question about it. And that’s an affordability fee. Anybody that owns a piece of property, they’re paying higher property taxes than ever before. And if we could lower that, that’s an affordability fee. In putting money into affordable housing and fixing roads and things like that, that actually lowers property taxes, too, at a local level. So, those are things that we have to look at,” said Gov. Evers.

Evers says the state and nation has an affordability problem, adding democrats were elected to fix that problem. So now, they need to deliver.