WDNR Needs More Money, Really

From Richard Moore and The Lakeland-Times

"11/28/2008 5:41:00 PM
Amid $5.4 billion deficit, DNR asking for more
Wants more than $2 million increase for vehicle fleet" Amid $5.4 billion deficit, DNR asking for more

Richard Moore
Investigative Reporter

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is asking for a $27.3 million increase in its 2009-11 biennial budget, according to Department of Administration documents released this past week.

The Natural Resources Board approved the proposed budget in September.

In a memo to the board, DNR secretary Matthew Frank outlined the details of a proposed bottom line of $596.5 million for 2009-10 and $596.7 million for 2010-11, for a total of $1,193.2 billion agency budget.

That's $27.3 million more than in 2007-09, of which Frank said $18.7 million represented the cost to continue current items.

"Of these amounts, about $231.6 million annually, or 39 percent, represents local assistance and debt service costs," Frank wrote. "The remaining $365.1 million reflects department costs to provide services."

Frank told board members it was a restrained budget, reflecting both the state's current fiscal climate and the Department of Administration's budget instructions.

"When cost to continue is excluded, this budget reflects a 0.7 percent growth over base," he wrote. "Even if standard cost to continue items are included, there is still only a 2.3 percent rate of growth over the 2008-09 base budget."

Frank said the DNR was continuing to reduce staffing levels. The new budget would cut agency personnel by 3.36 full-time equivalent positions, reducing total staffing to 2,742.17 full-time equivalent positions.

Even within the context of self-control, Frank told the board the agency could still make progress on some of its most important environmental initiatives, particularly in trying to stem the spread of invasive species on land and water, in dealing with Wisconsin's water quality and water quantity issues, in providing grants for dam repair and removal, in supporting conservation wardens' efforts pertaining to snowmobile safety and education, in maintaining department properties, and in operating state parks and trails.