How To Increase Fish and Wildlife Funding?

A task force will be seeking comment from the public on a list of proposed recommendations on how to increase revenues for the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.

It's no secret that wildlife management agencies are under increasing pressure to carry out their missions as funding sources shrink and departments are asked to do more. Two or three decades ago, wildlife management agencies focused primarily on hunting and fishing. But with increased nongame responsibilities, not to mention law enforcement, search and rescue and education chores being added to their plates, money flowing simply doesn't go as far as it used to.

Almost every state wildlife management agency is looking for ways to increase revenue without simply raising hunting and fishing license fees since hunters and anglers are already carrying more than their share of the cost of wildlife management.

Toward that end, the Vermont Legislature created the Wildlife Funding Task Force with the job of finding alternative ways of increasing funding for the department. The task force must submit a report to the Legislature by mid-January.

With a list of eight funding ideas, the task force wants to know what the public thinks of their ideas to improve their final report to the Legislature and the governor. The "listening session" is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 18 in the Pavilion Theater in Montpelier.

According to the legislation establishing the task force, the group has been told to "develop recommendations for comprehensive, sustainable funding mechanisms for the operations of the department of fish and wildlife which complement existing funding sources."

The legislation further states "the task force shall, among other things, consider whether costs of work carried out by fish and wildlife department personnel in providing technical services to permitting bodies and in enforcing laws and regulations other than fish and wildlife laws and regulations, should be paid for from other agency and department funds, as appropriate."

The eight recommendations the task force has come up with are:

1. Dedicate 1/8 of one percent of Sales Tax. Should be a $6 million revenue source.
2. Dedicate 1/8 of one percent of Rooms and Meals Tax. A $1.5 million revenue source.
3. Create a five-year fishing license. That is expected to be a $224,000 revenue source per year.
4. Create a five-year trapping license. Revenue amount unknown.
5. Explore a five-year hunting license. Logistical hurdles remain with this idea.
6. Create a lottery ticket. This has an anticipated revenue of $300,000.
7. Dedicate General Fund money specifically to offset law enforcement expenses. Current law enforcement budget is $4.2 million. This source could be relieved if Rooms and Meals Tax revenue exceeds expectations.
8. Create a user-fee permit for Fish & Wildlife Access Areas. Require that nonmotorized vessels have a permit to utilize access. Projected revenues of $1 million based on a $10 fee spread over 100,00 canoes, kayaks and sailboats.

Each of these ideas has potential, although many also have a downside. Several of these ideas would likely see opposition as nobody is going to want to give up tax revenue and user groups will likely balk at any additional tax or fees levied.

In my opinion, that's just tough. It's time nonconsumptive outdoor enthusiasts help foot the bill for the wildlife we all enjoy.

I would love to see several, if not most, of these suggested implemented.