SUDER COMMENTS ON DNR AUDIT
Tuesday, June 6th, 2006 -- 3:21 PM
An audit of the Department of Natural Resources is complete with both critics and supporters of the agency touting its findings.Rep. Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) spearheaded the audit. He expected to find the Department was misusing fishing and hunting license fees.
Tuesday, Suder conceded the audit shows those revenues are going where they're supposed to: programs benefiting hunting and fishing.
But, he says the audit does show the DNR is overspending and mismanaging the Fish and Wildlife account.
?A few years ago, they had a $28.3-million surplus, now the surplus is gone,? Suder notes. ?It?s clear the DNR is overspending and now coming to the legislature and asking for even more.?
The problem, according to Suder, is the bloated administrative cost associated with the program.
?Franly, I think they have too many employees. They have over 874 fulltime employees in this division alone,? Suder says.
The DNR is expected to request additional hunting and license fee increases to cover the account?s shortfall. Suder won?t support that request, in part, because he feels it would be counter-productive to the goal of increasing revenue.
?We're number 3 in the nation in user fees and hunting and fishing fees. I?m not sure that?s exactly where we want to be,? Suder says. ?I think that is driving a lot of people away from hunting and fishing as well.?
Auditors, the DNR and many state legislators agree flagging interest among young people in hunting and fishing could harm the fund in future years.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.