Thick Shady
10-10-2002, 02:19 PM
Taken from an interview with DNR Deputy Commissioner Steven Morse.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources was directed to by the Minnesota Department of Finance to explore budget options for the next two fiscal years. The reductions drafted by the DNR reflect overall cuts of about 10 percent of its budget. When combined with the loss of base funding and inflationary factors, the end result is a 20 percent reduction in the DNR's budget.
Here is part of a plan recently developed by the DNR to address revenue shortfalls during the next two years.
This plan could have significant impacts to northern Minnesota in the areas of fisheries, forestry, parks and recreation and enforcement reducing services such as the number of fish stocked, the amount of timber offered for sale, camping facilities and conservation officers.
The Division of Fisheries could see up to 83 positions affected by this draft plan. The total reduction in dollars to the division is $6,829,200. Reductions would include 65 less creel survey and habitat development projects each year and 180 less surveys and assessments for individual lakes.
Stocking would also take significant hits. A total of 18,000 fewer pounds of trout, 4,000 fewer muskie fingerlings and 20,000 fewer catfish yearlings would be stocked as a result of the proposed cuts.
There is a perception by many in the general public that government spending is padded and full of fat, DNR Regional Director John Guenther stated, however, that this scenario and recent reductions go far beyond trimming unnecessary costs. "We're not cutting fat, we're cutting meat," he said.
Guenther and others in the DNR want to make sure the public knows exactly what further deep cuts could mean to services.
Portions reprinted with permission from the Herald-Review
Source: Beth Billy
Grand Rapids Herald Review
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources was directed to by the Minnesota Department of Finance to explore budget options for the next two fiscal years. The reductions drafted by the DNR reflect overall cuts of about 10 percent of its budget. When combined with the loss of base funding and inflationary factors, the end result is a 20 percent reduction in the DNR's budget.
Here is part of a plan recently developed by the DNR to address revenue shortfalls during the next two years.
This plan could have significant impacts to northern Minnesota in the areas of fisheries, forestry, parks and recreation and enforcement reducing services such as the number of fish stocked, the amount of timber offered for sale, camping facilities and conservation officers.
The Division of Fisheries could see up to 83 positions affected by this draft plan. The total reduction in dollars to the division is $6,829,200. Reductions would include 65 less creel survey and habitat development projects each year and 180 less surveys and assessments for individual lakes.
Stocking would also take significant hits. A total of 18,000 fewer pounds of trout, 4,000 fewer muskie fingerlings and 20,000 fewer catfish yearlings would be stocked as a result of the proposed cuts.
There is a perception by many in the general public that government spending is padded and full of fat, DNR Regional Director John Guenther stated, however, that this scenario and recent reductions go far beyond trimming unnecessary costs. "We're not cutting fat, we're cutting meat," he said.
Guenther and others in the DNR want to make sure the public knows exactly what further deep cuts could mean to services.
Portions reprinted with permission from the Herald-Review
Source: Beth Billy
Grand Rapids Herald Review