Proposed Budget Cuts

[Little Dave]

Link to the proposed cuts for the WDFW:
http://www.ofm.wa.gov/budget09/highlights/#naturalresources

Some highlights.
Natural Resources budget is cut 12.2%
WDFW budget is cut 7.2%

Spending Cuts:
-$8,100,000  Reduce Fish Production
-$7,655,000  Balance To Available Revenue
  "Hatcheries to be closed are the Colville, Omak, Arlington,
      Mossyrock, and McKernan hatcheries.
-$2,200,000  Reduce Wildlife Management
   "There will be a reduction of data collected to determine
      whether elk and deer population levels meet recreational needs."
-$2,100,000  Reduce Habitat Protection
-$1,600,000  Reduce Enforcement Officers
   "approximately seven positions will be eliminated"
-$1,200,000  Reduce Information Technology and Agency Management   
  -$784,000  Reduce Outreach and Education
   "The subsidy of state general funds to help support hunter and
      other educational programs is reduced by 40 percent."   
  -$300,000  Eliminate Aviation Facility
  -$223,000  Oil Spill Account Shortfall   

Spending increases:
$2,874,000  Employee Health Insurance
  $880,000  Enhance Recreational Shellfish Opportunities   
  $294,000  Implement Hatchery Reform Actions   

Other adjustments:
-$4,730,000  Governor-Directed Freeze
-$1,080,000  Governor-Directed 1% Cut   
-$3,995,000  Actuarial Method Changes #   

Subtotal  -$29,919,000

[yelp]

If governors budget is approved by legislature...

After reading some of the reports like above it looks like WDFW could be reduced by 180 -220 FTE's

If I remember what I read state pay increases were put on hold by governor even after union contracts were approved..many teachers, WDFW biologists, and others..will not be getting pay increases for two + years then I guess will be funded at a later date.  A job however is better than no job...right!

I think they should ask each employee if to show thier fishing or hunting license.  If they don't have one let them go! The number would probably shock us all.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 Has Gregoire's pay been cut also?? Wouldn't she be considered the State "CEO". What was it Obama and Congress said, that CEO's who lose money and make poor decisions should not be rewarded, they should find the door..... Should also apply to elected officials, our tax dollar's are not free to be wasted. How big would that casino tax revenue be now ?? The cut's below are reflective of the fact Gregoire has no comprehension of what the "Evergreen State" really means. The combined nearly 10 million in "moved funds" to the general fund and the cut to wildlife habitat protection directly cut land purchases and management of new lands that would be purchased.

[boneaddict]

She makes me ILLLLLLLLLLL!

[yelp]

 

[rougheye]

How come every time i shoot my bow all i see is her big fat    head in my peep sight   

[PolarBear]

Stupid bitch!   That broad just Cant Understand Normal Thinking!!!!   Can you tell that there are few people on this planet that I despise more than her/it?

[Wacenturion]

Has Gregoire's pay been cut also?? Wouldn't she be considered the State "CEO". What was it Obama and Congress said, that CEO's who lose money and make poor decisions should not be rewarded, they should find the door..... Should also apply to elected officials, our tax dollar's are not free to be wasted. How big would that casino tax revenue be now ?? The cut's below are reflective of the fact Gregoire has no comprehension of what the "Evergreen State" really means. The combined nearly 10 million in "moved funds" to the general fund and the cut to wildlife habitat protection directly cut land purchases and management of new lands that would be purchased.

The proposed cut in "wildlife habitat protection" is likely not what you allude to.  In WDFW that generally means things like permits, Sepa. Nepa and all the Pepa's, water rights, prospecting etc......not state lands, lands for acquisition, you know...things that actually benefit fish and wildlife and the recreational public.  All of those environmental things probably would be better located in the Department of Ecology.

[Dmanmastertracker]

Has Gregoire's pay been cut also?? Wouldn't she be considered the State "CEO". What was it Obama and Congress said, that CEO's who lose money and make poor decisions should not be rewarded, they should find the door..... Should also apply to elected officials, our tax dollar's are not free to be wasted. How big would that casino tax revenue be now ?? The cut's below are reflective of the fact Gregoire has no comprehension of what the "Evergreen State" really means. The combined nearly 10 million in "moved funds" to the general fund and the cut to wildlife habitat protection directly cut land purchases and management of new lands that would be purchased.

The proposed cut in "wildlife habitat protection" is likely not what you allude to.  In WDFW that generally means things like permits, Sepa. Nepa and all the Pepa's, water rights, prospecting etc......not state lands, lands for acquisition, you know...things that actually benefit fish and wildlife and the recreational public.  All of those environmental things probably would be better located in the Department of Ecology.

 I've worked on a few SEPA/ NEPA permitted projects, I've always worked with DOE people on those, though I imagine the DFW might have some administrative oversight of certain SEPA/ NEPA issues affecting State land's, but I can't see where that would create a need for a 2+ million budget cut in that area (they don't pay their people that much! . At any rate the general fund cut of nearly 8 million is a huge hit, that alone could buy ten's of thousand's of acre's in habitat. I agree the DOE should take the hit as far as permitting, if that is indeed what the cut is for, rather than DFW.

[EastWaViking]

how about deporting all illegal aliens, cutting off all welfare, and cut all goveronment spending on Mrs. grinches makeup.  that should put us back in the black.   

[robb92]

Or making the Gov and every member of the state legislator take a big pay cut or give them a dollar a year for pay. To be honest are they doing anything that is really helping the state or just moving on their own programs?

[Diehard0123]

how about deporting all illegal aliens, cutting off all welfare, and cut all goveronment spending on Mrs. grinches makeup.  that should put us back in the black.   

I work for the state and its getting pretty bad. 

[shorthair-on-point]

She has also added completely eliminating the pheasant release program.

[NWTFhunter]

I just sent her a nasty gram with those pay scales included.... Stating that she should be one to take a 12% pay cut.
Lets see if she responds to that.

[yelp]

short-hair on  point where did you find that info about the pheasant release programs...?

[NWTFhunter]

 

LOOK CLOSELY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE... "ADDING COMMENTS HAS BEEN DISABLED TO THIS VIDEO"
HHMMMMMMMMMM WONDER WHY ? C%&T !!

[shorthair-on-point]

I have some friends at the WDFW. One of which I go to coffee with in the morning. Usually they are pretty tight lipped but lately they have been talkative since it looks like there are going to be some people losing their jobs.

[yelp]

SHORTHAIR ON POINT...IS YOUR COFFEE DRINKING BUDDY AFRAID TO LOSE HIS/HER JOB TOO?  SEND ME a pm I KNOW SOME GUYS IN WDFW TOO. 

[clindsayrun]

Crazy to see the enforcement positions being cut. It's already hard enough for those guys to track down the commercial poachers.
Just making it easier on the bad guys.

[skybusterbo]

how about deporting all illegal aliens, cutting off all welfare, and cut all goveronment spending on Mrs. grinches makeup.  that should put us back in the black.  

x2

[NWTFhunter]

To add money to our budget.
First anyone recieving welfare must submit to a drug test !  Fail, cut off PERIOD.
Second, deport any and all persons who are not here legally holding any type of job ! This excludes persons with proper documents.
Third, all legislative members take a 12% pay cut this term.

[NWTFhunter]

Oh Lord dont even think about taking the cable tv out of prisons, its their right dont you know.

[MountainMan7640]

 I know as a instructor of hunter education I recieved a letter stating that no longer will kids recieve an "orange card" they will instead recieve a postcard with thier information on it. Also more cuts in the education department do to this budget our so called "State Leader" has come up with. I guess what really makes me sad is the fact that some did not learn the first term with her so we just had to try her again. What did they think? Yes unfortuneately it will end up cost anyone who lives in Washington.

[ICEMAN]

Mountainman, that is sad to hear. My kids passed hunters ed this summer and cherish their orange ID card. I am sure they will keep these forever.

Ya know, the more I look at her lies during her campaign. The more I see the criminal ties and lies from many of the democrats elected. The more I see idiots like Franken elected. The less respect I have for most voters out there. Many would elect the devil himself in spite of what is right. Seem many dont give a crap who they vote for anymore.

[WDFW-SUX]

Wildlife in washington is like the redheaded step child........not surprised about any of this.  Gregoire lied about the budget deficit to get re elected and now we are forced to live with the results.

Anyone out there want to defend her?

[NWTFhunter]

Passion, have you sent her a letter lately? I sent her one the other day calling her a damn lier, along with giving her some ideas on budget cuts..........HERS!   Lets see if I get anything back...

[WDFW-SUX]

I have a different plan.

[ICEMAN]

Dont worry, if you wait a few hours longer she will be gone, to take an appointment from Obama.

[shorthair-on-point]

Mountainman, that is sad to hear. My kids passed hunters ed this summer and cherish their orange ID card. I am sure they will keep these forever.

Ya know, the more I look at her lies during her campaign. The more I see the criminal ties and lies from many of the democrats elected. The more I see idiots like Franken elected. The less respect I have for most voters out there. Many would elect the devil himself in spite of what is right. Seem many dont give a crap who they vote for anymore.

 You are making an assumption that the people they say are electing these politicians are actually voting for them. There is a lot of voter fraud and corruption out there.
However, I do agree that our country as a whole does seems to be getting dumber by the day. Particularly when it comes to politics.

[whacker1]

Cut Spending - She doesn't have the legislature to accomplish that regardless of department. 

Anyway you slice and dice Washington State Politics - It all looks bad. 

As I was hunting in Idaho this year, I saw many places where I thought about setting up my wall tent for the year instead of just the few weeks I am able to sneek away.  Every Election, Legislative Session, and campaign add drives me closer to being a hermit.  If you don't hear from me, just look for a wall tent somewhat buried in the snow in North Idaho.  No need to knock as long as you bring beer.

[TeacherMan]

You should see what our governor has done in the education world. The education budget cuts this year are nearing 300 million. The little school of Curlew is expected to have 172-332,000 cut from out state contribution. 

[MountainMan7640]

  Somebody correct me if I am wrong but did not washington pass the "loto" for the moneies raised to support schools and state highways? If so why is so much being cut from school budgets and why are we going to have another gas tax to help roads in this state? Where is all these billions of "lotto" dollars going? hmmm Now you donot need to be a "Rocket Scientist" to figure this one out. Someones or a few pocket's are getting a pretty good linning.

[logger]

  Also timber tax from private land owners is also supposed to go towards schools as well as most state timber sale revenues.

[whacker1]

Agreed that schools are losing State Funding, but if you look at the budget after this legislative session comes to a end - I bet the State budget dollars will still be similar to the last biennium.  Since a single party controls all three legs of a budget decision making process.  You can bet that we will see some tax shifting / increases and program downsizing, but you won't see a budget that is actually fiscally responsible.  This party in question isn't very good at eliminating programs, because it is in their nature to increase the size of government and government run programs.  So they will probably just short fund all of them instead of actually making the big changes that are needed. 

[NWTFhunter]

I have been a constant thorn in the govenors side since her re election sending her email after email. I also send them to the legislative branch.  The gov has only replied to one of my mails, maybe because it wasnt bashing her head into a wall ! Canwell has replied to 2, and Hastings none!  Sen Hewitt on the other hand replies to most.  Here is his last regarding my rant about the govenors spending spree and budget.  I hope that EVERY ONE of you contact your elected officials about this budget.

"Cameron, Thank you for contacting me. The Governor knew before the end of the last legislative session that she had spent us into a projected $2.5 billion dollar budget deficit, because the non-partisan Senate Ways & Means Committee, of which I am a member, had run the numbers on the new policy spending proposals.  State government's financial crisis was caused primarily by a 33% increase in spending over four years which was much more than even a strong state economy could support. It's not appropriate to blame all of state government's financial issues on the national economy. Washington was already headed for a historically large budget deficit when the national economic troubles hit. Although the national problems have exacerbated the state-level issues, the deficit would be much more manageable if there hadn't been year after year of overspending. I did not support most of the choices which led to this crisis. The first step we should take in solving this crisis is to pass a revised 2007-09 budget during the first week of session, and I will be meeting with leadership to get to work on this immediately. The governor's supplemental only continues prior proposed savings (hiring freeze, etc.), but does not make policy changes that will lead to significant savings in 2009-11. Every dollar saved in the final quarter of the biennium through policy changes translates to a savings of about four dollars in the new budget.Passing a supplemental budget with policy changes should be the Legislature's first priority. The state is also expecting some help from the federal government, but mainly for investments in infrastructure, such as transportation, and then specifically for expediting those projects that are in the final planning stages, or that are ready to go. We do not have official numbers yet, but the talk is that the state will receive upwards of a billion dollars earmarked as stimulus money. If we can rework and amend the supplemental budget to compound savings, and if the federal government provides more funding than we expect, perhaps we can mitigate the effects of this awful budget deficit.  Much of my time will be consumed with nothing else for the next several months. I will be fighting for our community, against tax increases, and doing my best to reign in and eliminate the expansion of progressive programs that we could not afford and cannot continue to fund. Those are prime examples of why these tough cuts are upon us.  I encourage you to contact the Executive branch and the Majority leaders, and let them know exactly how this affects your lives and your families. Please know that I understand your concerns, and if I can be of any further service, contact me. Regards, MikeSenator Mike HewittSenate Republican Leader; 16th District360-786-7630 w"