It turns out the state Department of Natural Resources doesn't need to increase hunting and fishing license fees this budget year.
DNR Director Rebecca Humphries told lawmakers this week that the Game and Fish Fund will have a $10 million fund balance because of an unexpected increase in license sales, operational savings and higher-than-expected returns on investments.
The department had warned of layoffs and other cuts if fees weren't increased this year. Humphries said fee hikes still are needed in the 2008-09 fiscal year because of expected funding shortfalls.
Some Republican legislators were upset, feeling DNR officials had exaggerated their need for extra revenue.
Humphries' announcement followed Gov. Jennifer Granholm's administration telling House members last week that she supported avoiding fee increases this budget year. And House Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources Chairman Joel Sheltrown, D-West Branch, said he had a deal to use $5 million in Michigan Business Tax revenue to avoid the fee hikes.
Legislators leery of raising fees so soon after approving general tax increases in the fall have until Jan. 15 to raise the fees, make spending cuts or find an alternative funding source.
Under legislation proposed but not voted on, the cost of a firearm or archery deer license would have doubled from $15 to $30 for Michigan residents over the next four years and quickly risen from $138 to $165 for out-of-state hunters. A 24-hour fishing license for in-state residents would have increased from $7 to $15 by 2011 and from $150 to $300 for nonresidents.
The Outspoken Sportsman
hosted by Bill Moore
YouTube Video's of the rally and more at:
and also at: http://www.deltacd.org/video.aspx
If you value your outdoor activities,
please come to the meetings to discuss
issues within our state.
Also check out the Gaylord Rally
YouTube Video's of the rally and more at:
and also at: http://www.deltacd.org/video.aspx
If you value your outdoor activities,
please come to the meetings to discuss
issues within our state.
Also check out the Gaylord Rally
It’s rally time
Sportsmen question DNR, DEQ operations (Posted Feb. 17, 2008)
By JOHN PEPIN, Journal Staff Writer
MARQUETTE — More than 300 angry sportsmen packed a meeting room at the Ramada Inn in Marquette Saturday, trying to galvanize support for an overhaul of the inner management and fiscal workings of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
“We want better service and we want better response for the people,” said Rory Mattson, executive director of the Delta Conservation District, one of the rally organizers. “The Yoopers are mad.”
Mattson said organizers received 1,123 calls from interested persons living in the Upper Peninsula and 436 calls from Lower Peninsula residents prior to the rally.
He said there are literally a few thousand examples available of people who have had unfavorable recent experiences in dealing with the DNR and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
Much of Saturday’s two-hour session involved Mattson and others detailing problems they’ve documented, including funds dedicated for fish and game funds used for non-game wildlife programs, the DNR skewing results and meeting focus by selecting a majority of DNR personnel for membership on an important Conservation Summit Committee, heavy handed law enforcement, too much money spent on administration of programs, conflicting and poor management decisions, problems obtaining public information and the DNR and DEQ wasting money.
Natural Resources Commission members John Madigan of Munising and J.R. Richardson of Ontonagon attended the rally and said they would take the concerns expressed at the rally back to Lansing.
“I can understand why people are frustrated,” Richardson said. “A lot of this is all about communication. There’s a lot of frustration because of the lack of communication.”
Madigan said the NRC and the DNR need to work to improve their images. The agencies have made mistakes in communicating budget issues.
“We need to involve these groups, because they are willing to help,” Madigan said. “Obviously a lot of issues came up.”
He said another message he heard was that the sportsmen are willing to pay fees as long as they are getting a good product in return.
State Rep. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba, was among five state lawmakers who attended the rally. He said he was glad to see the issues had fire up residents.
“I thought it was a great day, with all the people showing up,” Casperson said. “It’s good to see people caring so much about something.”
Earlier this winter, Casperson and a handful of other legislators had planned to groom state ski trails in Delta County and elsewhere when the DNR threatened to stop the practice because of a reported lack of funding.
The DNR later relented.
Casperson said he thinks those at the rally Saturday were frustrated with legislators for allowing “some of this stuff to go on” within the DNR.
The Upper Peninsula Sportsmen’s Alliance recently asked Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s office to investigate the DNR, after the agency ended its fiscal year with a $10 million fund balance in the Game and Fish Protection Fund.
Throughout the year, DNR officials had said the agency would need a sharp increase in hunting and fishing license fees to avoid cutting positions and slashing department programs important to anglers and hunters.
Granholm representatives said an agency investigation would not be necessary, expecting recent reforms announced by the DNR to better inform the public would help improve the situation.
But Saturday, speakers at the rally were still calling for an investigation and a change of mindset of the DNR.
Mattson said independent research using experts and retired and current DNR and DEQ employees has determined the DNR could be run more efficiently at a third of the cost, while the DEQ could achieve the same goal for two-thirds of the money now being spent.
Other speakers said the idea of never-ending DNR cuts to programs coupled with increased calls for more money cannot be continued as “business as usual,” the DNR’s checkbooks should be made available on the Internet for transparency to the public, term limits for legislators should be eliminated, the NRC should be disbanded and a new director named for the DNR.
Richardson said he’s glad he came to the meeting.
“People have to vent and share their opinions and we have to know them so we can bring them downstate,” Richardson said. “I think it’s healthy.”
The DNR has public meetings scheduled for March 8 in Marquette, with a partial NRC committee, to listen and act on some of the concerns of area sportsmen.
http://culogin.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/505737.html
http://www.miningjournal.net/page/category.detail/nav/5003.html
U.P. sportsmen unhappy
with DNR operation
February 18, 2008
The message was perfectly clear - clean up your act. More than 300 sportsmen packed a meeting room at the Ramada Inn in Marquette Saturday to voice that opinion of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Rally organizers and attendees alike blasted the department for what many viewed as mismanagement by the state agency charged with overseeing Michigan’s vast natural resources. One of the rally’s organizers, Rory Mattson, executive director of the Delta County Conservation District, said the residents of the Upper Peninsula deserve better service and a more responsive DNR.
The DNR Marquette Rally that was held on February 16, 2008 can be seen on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnvHyWDMuEU
NEW VIDEO - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96l4mZsCKI0
Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg_Jo7ZbPv4
********************
Mining Journal Articles on the DNR Rally ~
U.P. NRC meeting delayed
MARQUETTE – A Michigan Natural Resources sub-committee meeting scheduled for March 8 in Marquette has been postponed at the request of one of the commissioners. » Full Story
After meeting, agency promises change
MARQUETTE — Conceding her agency faltered in the handling of a recent budget crisis, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Rebecca Humphries is looking to improve the image of her de » Full Story
U.P. sportsmen unhappy with DNR operation
The message was perfectly clear - clean up your act. » Full Story
It’s rally time
MARQUETTE — More than 300 angry sportsmen packed a meeting room at the Ramada Inn in Marquette Saturday, trying to galvanize support for an overhaul of the inner management and fiscal workings o » Full Story
DNR rally set here for Saturday
MARQUETTE — Sportsmen plan to rally in Marquette Saturday to critique management and financial decisions made by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. » Full Story
Sportsmen’s rally will target DNR
Area residents who are concerned about the financial workings of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources — and there should be many —will have an opportunity this month to voice those » Full Story
DNR in crosshairs
MARQUETTE — Sportsmen plan to rally in Marquette this month to decry management and financial decisions made by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. » Full Story
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http://www.wluctv6.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=96823
http://www.michiganwaterfowl.com/forum/showthread.php?t=222081
http://www.greatlakesforum.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,27/topic,2165.msg11623/
http://savemymichigan.com/2008/02/02/bad-boys-bad-boys/
http://www.gophouse.com/readarticle....41&District=86
SURPRISE SURPLUS LEAVES QUESTIONS UNANSWERED
January 28, 2008
Just prior to the regularly scheduled Revenue Estimating Conference in Lansing, the state Legislature was informed that Michigan has a $353 million surplus from the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2007. As a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, I was shocked and astonished by this news. Through our budget debates, we rely on accurate information from state officials on predicted revenue and we base our decisions on that data. After a grueling budget battle in September of 2007, which included a tax increase of $1.4 billion, a threat by the governor to shutdown state government and outright panic over an alarming budget deficit, how is it possible that the administration "discovered" a significant surplus from the 2007 fiscal year?
Accusations from state Legislators, business leaders and the general public surfaced. Was this poor management by state officials in leadership and shouldn't those people responsible for the misinformation be held accountable? Were the Governor and others intentionally withholding information to mislead the Legislature and help justify their cry for a huge tax increase on Michigan businesses and residents? The answers to these questions have been slow in coming and the public should be outraged.
As state legislators, one of our constitutional responsibilities is to balance the state budget each year. I take that responsibility very seriously and owe it to the Michigan residents that I represent to spend their tax dollars responsibly and efficiently. It is difficult to do that when information is intentionally withheld, despite my attempts to ask the appropriate people the proper questions. Without knowing the answers as to why we were not made aware of this surplus to prevent it from happening again, it is still our duty to make decisions on how to budget this "newly found" surplus. We have already prioritized state spending, debated the budget, compromised, negotiated and settled on an end product. The budget is balanced, in place, being executed and moving forward. So what should we do with the surplus? Of course the ideas are far and wide in Lansing. To me there are two easy solutions: 1) return it to the taxpayers or 2) put it away in a secured rainy day fund for future budget challenges.
Unfortunately Democratic leadership in Lansing already has their sights set to spend it. Michigan is still not out of the economic crisis, and recklessly spending this money is irresponsible. Republicans and Democrats alike can agree that this is the taxpayer's money, so let's all be good stewards of our tax dollars and return the surplus or save it for a future budget crisis.
Dave Hildenbrand
Republican Floor Leader
(R-Lowell)
U.P. outdoor sporting
groups blast DNR, DEQ
It took more than two hours to explain
all the problems they're seeing.
 |
By Samantha Liebman
Posted: Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. ~ WLUC TV6
MARQUETTE -- Outdoor sporting groups in the U.P. are upset with the Michigan DNR and the DEQ. They expressed their concerns to officials in Marquette Saturday.
More than 300 people attended what some dubbed an anti-DNR rally at the Ramada Inn. U.P. members of the Natural Resources Commission as well as state legislators listened as concerns were expressed over how the DNR and the DEQ are being run.
A major issue: the DNR's fund balance.
"So they knew in August, September for sure, they were about even,” said Rory Mattson of the Delta Conservation District, one of the meeting's organizers. “So there was no reason not to tell people before January."
It was during those months the DNR asked the legislature to pass fee hikes and lobbied the state for more money, threatening services and jobs. Then last month, the DNR announced it had a $10 million fund balance.
"The problem we had is that we were communicating a much higher deficit in the balance than was actually concluded at the end,” said Natural Resources Commission member John Madigan of Munising. “We should have backed off and we didn't, and we apologize for that. It was a mistake."
But Mattson thinks that's just one of the problems in a long list he cited during the afternoon that included cuts in services, fee increases and general dishonesty.
"They're playing a shell game with the federal money, the state money, which is an appropriation and all their license fees and permit application fees," said Mattson.
But State Senator Mike Prusi (D-Ishpeming) said the legislature can affect change through the budget.
"When we fund activities that aren't going the way we think they should, there's an opportunity to do things through the appropriations process that puts a little more pressure on them,” he said.
After meeting, agency promises change
By JOHN PEPIN, Journal Munising Bureau
MARQUETTE — Conceding her agency faltered in the handling of a recent budget crisis, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Rebecca Humphries is looking to improve the image of her department and its interactions with the public.
After pushing for much of last year for a sharp increase in hunting and fishing license fees to prevent a shortfall in the state’s Game and Fish Protection Fund, DNR officials announced the fund ended the year with a $10 million fund balance.
The revelation enraged sportsmen, many of whom have long thought the DNR is a bureaucratic boondoggle, an agency that has become far too top heavy with administrators, less than honest in its dealings with the public and constantly threatening cuts to programs and important field and local staff.
A group of more than 300 such sportsmen packed a meeting room at the Ramada Inn in Marquette Saturday, trying to galvanize support for an investigation of the agency and an overhaul of its practices.
In an interview with The Mining Journal prior to the rally, Humphries said the DNR failed to effectively communicate the budget issues to the public last fall.
“It created distrust,” Humphries said.
The DNR adhered to special orders given by Gov. Jennifer Granholm last year to curtail spending, which led to the DNR saving more money in the fund than it originally anticipated.
More income from hunting license revenue than expected was also realized, which posted gains for the DNR in the latter part of the year. But that message never effectively reached the public.
What did get out clearly were earlier agency threats to eliminate jobs and big cuts to numerous programs dear to sportsmen.
Humphries said she never would have considered those job cuts if she had known the budget projections would ultimately prove to be inaccurate.
“For me, it’s heartbreaking,” said Humphries. “I think it has hurt us. We have tried to run things as efficiently as we can.”
Since that time, Humphries said she has taken several steps to make the budget information more readily available to the public, including monthly reports to the Natural Resources Commission and employing new ways of more accurately projecting budgets.
Humphries said though she’s heard the charge the DNR has not cut enough personnel in Lansing, she said current staff figures don’t bear out the claim.
She said about 30 positions have been cut in Lansing, many of which Humphries said she has no plans to refill.
In terms of field positions, Humphries agrees staff levels are diminished.
“We’re down to all-time lows with conservation officers and fire officers in the field,” Humphries said.
The state legislature is currently set to consider a supplemental funding bill, which would provide $2 million to be split between the DNR — for forest recreation and fire programs — and the state’s conservation districts.
State Rep. Steve Lahti, D-Hancock, said the supplemental funding bill is expected to be acted on within the next couple of weeks.
Lahti, who sits on the house appropriations committee, worked closely with Humphries last December to ensure ski trails would be groomed this winter.
Fire funding for the DNR in the bill would be used to purchase some equipment and fill some of the fire officer positions, which Humphries said have fallen “below objective levels.”
Forest recreation funding could not only stave off the possibility of more state forest campground closures this summer, but would likely see the reopening of several sites which were closed last year, angering anglers, campers and equestrian forest users.
“If they pass that, we’ll be able to open most of those campgrounds,” Humphries said.
It remains to be seen whether improvements to DNR operations and public communications will ultimately be realized.
But it appears after the events of recent days a tentative dialogue has begun between the DNR, lawmakers and the state’s sportsmen.
At Saturday’s rally, impassioned sportsmen offered their assistance to helping solve DNR problems. At the same time, they pleaded for more consideration and assistance from legislators and DNR officials in providing a fiscally responsible agency.
Five state lawmakers attended the rally, sitting in the front row, listening and taking notes.
Upper Peninsula NRC commissioners John Madigan of Munising and J.R. Richardson of Ontonagon vowed to take local concerns back to Lansing.
Madigan said the input and assistance of local groups must be utilized. Richardson said improved communication could eliminate many of the problems.
Humphries said, “People are passionate about the outdoors in the Upper Peninsula. And there are no shortage of opinions and we’re open to hearing all of them.”
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