This is my first visit to the Midwest forum and figured I might find this topic. My good friend works for the Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC)and I asked her what the deal was. She offers some opinion and info that I'm not sure is 100% accurate (e.g. statement that MI fees are some of the lowest in the nation, I'm not sure where we rank) but she is a knowledgeable and trusted source of info. The MUCC is pro-hunting and lobbies in support of hunters. The skinny of it is the DNR does not get money from the general fund anymore, so moneyneeds to come from somewhere. Here is the email she sent me:

"You’re right in saying that the license fee increase is a hot topic. The reasoning behind the increase is that the DNR no longer receives any money from the general fund. All of their dollars come from license fees, user fees, forestry profits, etc. Each year the amount of money they got from the general fund got cut until the current point where they no longer receive any dollars from that source. The sources of money they do have to run the department and programs are currently projected to fall far short of the amount they actually need, hence the fee increases.

In my opinion, they do need a fee increase (MI’s hunting and fishing fees are some of the lowest in the nation and haven’t been raised in years), however, the amounts given in the report are the amounts needed for the OPTIMAL budget. They are higher that the DNR actually needs to keep in business. Also, it’s important to note that all of these fees have to go through the legislative process. It would take a divine intervention for the recommended fees to pass through the legislature untouched. There is going to be a hefty negotiation process and what will probably come out will be a moderate increase to some of the licenses.

Our board actually voted to support the fee increases as is because they really think that what the DNR does is important and they want those services to continue. In my opinion (you’re getting a lot of my opinion today), the licenses fees are necessary to an extent- they do need a small increase, but the DNR should be looking to collect money from all the other (hikers, bikers, mushroom pickers, etc) who use state land and don’t pay a thing, to even things out.

Also, I’ll let you know that there is a much broader discussion going on to find long-term funding sources for almost all the departments in the state, but the DNR and DEQ are the ones we are following. Long term funding sources meaning like a percentage of the sales tax, a penny surcharge on certain purchases, etc. Basically they are in the brainstorming phase of this and the license fee increase is to tide them over while a reasonable and feasible solution is reached.

Here’s the link to the DNR’s report : http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153--157566--,00.html

Let me know if you need more info/ further explanation. The bill that will authorize the fee increases probably won’t be introduced until the beginning of 2007 and who knows how long it will take to pass it once that happens. I’m guessing quite a while."