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IDFG seeks 20% fee increase 7/28/2008 – IOGLB tells Commission that Jones license will be “reviewed” Like most everything else that involves hunting, fishing, or trapping in the state of Idaho, your Idaho resident and non-resident license fees will go up in the year 2010. The IDFG Commission considered two options proposed by the department. A 15 percent increase would have meant cutting programs and not restoring programs that had already been cut. After review of the budget numbers presented by Jim Lau, IDFG Finance Bureau Chief, the Commission voted unanimously to seek an increase of all license fees by 20 percent. If approved by Governor Otter and the Idaho Legislature, it will be the first fee increase in six years. Driving the increase are rising employee salaries and benefit costs as well as near doubling of fuel prices on an agency heavily dependent on personnel and vehicles. Other costs of operation lead to the need for an increase as well but, “the lion’s share of the increase can be seen in these two budget areas,” said Lau. Although Lau reported an increase in revenue from license sales through the first quarter of 2008 (third quarter of fiscal year 2008), license sales had dipped in the second quarter due to a late spring and slow fishing license revenue. He further reported a recent increase in salmon tag sales, “good runs mean good revenue for the department.” Lau went on to report that while other states were reporting net annual losses in license sales of 2-5 percent, Idaho has enjoyed a net increase over the last three years of about 2.8 percent. He stated that he did not anticipate this trend to continue and the proposed rough working forecasts reflect a flat line in the number of licenses sold. While considering the two options brought before the Commission a cash flow statement comparison showed the 15 percent option meant the department would only be in the black the first year of a three year analysis, netting a near total $2.2 million loss by the year 2012. The 20 percent option showed a projected loss only in the year 2012 of about $254,000. Several commissioners related stories of losing personnel to other nearby states due to higher pay and benefits for the same job. They said Idaho has become a training ground, and fear that department employee retention will become increasingly difficult if compensation does not become more competitive. This will be the first fee increase since 2004 when the department went to the Idaho Legislature seeking a 13.8 percent increase – again, at that time, the first fee increase in six years – and was rejected and forced to settle for a 10 percent increase. The Idaho Outfitter and Guides Licensing Board (IOGLB) reported to the Commission that the Rulon Jones license approval will be reevaluated in light of “new information” brought before the board and the public. (See the June 30,2008 edition of WIN, “Rulon Jones given outfitters license.”) The IOGLB chairman Wayne Hunsucker reported that head of enforcement for the IOGLB has been terminated and that the board is wondering if IDFG may assist in enforcement efforts for the outfitters. During the recent decision to give Jones a license, IDFG spoke out in opposition citing ongoing problems and failure to comply with existing rules and regulations. IDFG also cited Jones’ past history in Utah and presented that to the director Jake Howard. Many upper-level department personnel and several commissioners confided in WIN that the Jones licensing decision was “very upsetting and a huge disappointment.” In other action items, the commission decided to allow seniors and disabled to apply for leftover youth hunt draw tags with other youth in an effort to better utilize the tags and afford an additional opportunity for the senior and disabled hunters. The plan was put forth by the Ada County Fish and Game League. Full funding for the completion of the Faragutt shooting range was approved with a recommendation to find as much cooperative funding and help as possible. Attorney General’s office sent Clive Strong to report to the commission that “all legal options were being weighed in regard to the recent court ruling returning the gray wolf to endangered status.” Following a question and answer period Strong said he felt Idaho’s chances were good to win an appeal or eventually win the upcoming court case. |
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