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The DNR’s new budget proposal calls for a new assault on invasive species, dozens of new campsites and a new state park in Milwaukee. It doesn’t mention hunting, fishing or camping fees.
DNR budget director Joe Polasek said the agency is trying to avoid any increases after the last state budget increased the cost of state residents’ deer hunting licenses by $4, fishing licenses by $3 and camping fees by $2.
But the agency still might seek to increase them if this fall’s hunting revenue isn’t robust, Polasek warned.
“We’re definitely doing as much as possible to avoid fee increases, but I can’t flat out say there won’t be any,” Polasek said.
The DNR’s budget request is the first step in a monthslong process that should end next summer with a new state budget covering the 2007-09 biennium.
The Natural Resources Board is set to consider the request at its meeting at the end of the month. From there the request goes to the governor, who compiles similar requests from all state agencies as he crafts his version of the state budget. That document must pass the full Legislature and get the governor’s signature before it can become law.
Who will write the governor’s budget is up in the air; incumbent Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle faces Republican Mark Green in the Nov. 7 election.
Edgar Harvey is a deer hunter from Waldo who serves as chairman of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, a group of sportsmen who advise the DNR. He said the budget request looks good for hunters and anglers at the moment, but it’s far too soon to tell what’s really in store.
“We don’t even know who’s going to be writing the budget yet,” Harvey said. “We’ll see what happens after the election.”
The DNR wants about $1.1 billion over the two-year budget, up $60.3 million from the 2005-07 budget. The state faces an estimated $1.5 billion deficit going into the upcoming budget because projected revenue won’t cover spending requests, but Polasek said the DNR’s request is frugal.
“It’s a pretty constrained package,” Polasek said.
The agency wants about $660,000 to launch a statewide program to combat invasive species, “what may well be the greatest threat to the long-term health and integrity of Wisconsin’s forests,” the budget request said.
About $90,000 of that would go toward detecting and controlling the emerald ash borer, an insect that has wiped out about 20 million ash trees in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Ontario, Canada, according to the budget request.
The DNR wants another $430,000 to station 10 uniformed wardens at boat landings around the state to enforce regulations against aquatic invasive species, such as zebra mussels. State statutes prohibit launching boats with aquatic plants attached, but the department doesn’t have the manpower to enforce them, the request said.
The agency wants $400,000 to make improvements, including adding some 200 campsites, to Harrington Beach State Park north of Milwaukee, Willow River State Park in Hudson and Kohler-Andrae State Park in Sheboygan. The DNR also wants about $300,000 to operate the new Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee. The 22-acre park will include the city’s Summerfest grounds, a lake walk and boat moorings.
