Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to layoff 76

[woodswalker]

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A massive budget cut has forced the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to layoff 76 employees and cut back on services, the department announced on Wednesday.

In addition to the layoffs, which will take effect at the end of the fiscal year on June 30, dozens of vacant positions will not be filled due to a $21 million decrease in funding over the next two years, the department said.

Deputy director Joe Stohr said the cuts were structured to preserve core department missions; however, there will be reductions in basic services.

The affected areas include: hatchery fish production, wildlife species recovery activities, technical assistance for habitat protection, wildlife area maintenance, fish and wildlife population monitoring, customer service and outreach and education.

Under the state budget recently passed by the Legislature, the department is slated to receive $81.2 million in funds, a decrease of $30 million in comparison to the current budget.

However, a new measure allows the department to collect a temporary 10-percent surcharge on fishing and hunting licenses and permits sold. The two-year plan is expected to bring in $6 million in revenue. The same measure also allows two-pole fishing on some lakes, which the department predicts will raise $2 million.

Another new law has established a new stamp for recreational salmon fishing in the Columbia River and its tributaries. The department hopes to raise $1.75 million through the stamps.

[Little Dave]

a new measure allows the department to collect a temporary 10-percent surcharge on fishing and hunting licenses and permits sold

Not sure when they plan to start the surcharge.  For your finances, save some cash and buy your licenses before the surcharge is imposed.

[Crunchy]

Sadly enough I'm sure that the money we pay for hunting and fishing license doesnt even go to the WDFW, but rather the state's general budget and then a small percentage may trickle down to fish and game.  It should be automatically placed in the fish an game fund, and extra, if any into the general fund.

[wastickslinger]

They cut 76 people from the field where they are needed and could have same impact by cutting 10 upper management positions. Actually I have no support to back that but isnt that what usually happens. Just seems like too many chiefs these days.

[luvtohnt]

They cut 76 people from the field where they are needed and could have same impact by cutting 10 upper management positions. Actually I have no support to back that but isnt that what usually happens. Just seems like too many chiefs these days.

That is exactly what is happening everywhere! I guess it is time for some of us to start volunteering a little more.

Brandon

[Wacenturion]

wildlife area maintenance?

Wonder just how much the WDFW could squeeze out of that one.  The Wildlife Area Program has only been in a custodial phase for like 30+ years.  There was no money there except a bare bones maintenance.  What a joke.

Yeah....they always get rid of field staff and production/opportunity efforts in lieu of keeping high paid, I'm too important, go to meeting office types.  They control the agenda and make the decisions of what to cut.  You don't expect them to cut themselves do you...lol.

That's why that agency needs a director who knows what to eliminate and what to keep, instead of some dumb ass who knows nothing and leaves those decisions to rank and file upper management.  Don't think it will ever change....sad. 

[DOUBLELUNG]

Sadly enough I'm sure that the money we pay for hunting and fishing license doesnt even go to the WDFW, but rather the state's general budget and then a small percentage may trickle down to fish and game.  It should be automatically placed in the fish an game fund, and extra, if any into the general fund.

All of the hunting and freshwater fishing license revenue goes to the state wildlife fund.  Saltwater fishing and shellfish license revenue goes to general fund.

[Little Dave]

A state loses its share of the Pittman-Robertson excise tax when hunting license revenue is funneled out of the wildlife department.  Apparently California has struggled with this and it just happened in Illinois.

The politicians in Illinois raided the hunting license revenues and used it for other programs.  Not too long after their last governor was impeached, the new governor Quinn is taking steps to comply with the Department of Fish and Wildlife to restore the funds.  He had to appeal to the department for an extension because they are having difficulty restoring the money.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 Bottom line here, the Governess is flunking Economics misereably -AGAIN, with this decision. I read on WDFW's site, the interim Director was praising the legislature for giving them any general fund money at all, ahem.. Hold on a minute, how much money, both directly and indirectly does outdoor recreation generate for the State's economy, vs. how much impact will these cuts have on those opportunities?? Someone on Capitol Hill is really, really not getting it. This is an economic step BACKWARDS, bigtime. If you look at all the program cuts, this will have a negative effect on fish, wildlife, habitat, enforcement and overall management for years to come. I truly contemplated not buying a license in Washington this year, knowing full-well the intentions of the State's budget-maker's to continue to gut the fish and wildlife program. The 10.6% headcount reduction is much greater than the National average of 0-4% reductions, overall Nationwide for game departments. In fact, Minnesota is virtually the only other fish and wildlife program that is even contemplating major cuts, other than Washington State. Even California, with arguably the worst budget situation in the Country, is not yet proposing these types of cuts. Time to speak up again.

 Minnesota: -No Layoffs, less than 3 million in cuts: http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/38724662.html

 

[Alpine Mojo]

Raise license fees and cut enforcement?  Im not going to finish that thought...   

[Dmanmastertracker]

 We really need to start a petition on this.

[Huntboy]

Maybe that's what some of the new reg's are for, trying to make enforcment real easy.

[saylean]

Dont you guys remember...
when gregoire was running, she said we werent facing a budget crisis for the next year...

until about 2 months after she got elected...lol...