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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 17, 2014 04:17 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Gary Haluska |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Changing the finances of the Fish & Boat Commission |
| In the near future I will be introducing legislation that will significantly change the finances of the Fish and Boat Commission. The Commission is already in a financial crisis with more bad times ahead as it faces inflation and pension hikes. My bill seeks to give the Commission the flexibility it needs to combat what could become unsurmountable difficulties. Currently, there are two separate funds within the Commission, the Fish Fund and the Boat Fund. In the past, having two separate funds with designated purposes worked well. But given the facts that anglers and boaters can enjoy the same waterways and resources and that boat registrations and fees provide for a consistent and sizable revenue flow, combining the two funds now makes sense. Also, the cost in time and labor needed to divide up proportionately each source of income for the Commission is, in my mind, wasted; a combined fund would relieve them of this accounting burden. The Fish Fund faces dwindling revenues and increased costs. The Boat Fund does not need to face the same problems, like rising fish food expenditures, hatchery repairs, and stocking expenses. By combining the funds, the Commission will be given a new tool and greater flexibility in responding to the fiscal challenges of today and tomorrow. If you would like to co-sponsor this bill, please contact Marilyn in my office at mjuran@pahouse.net |
Introduced as HB2143