One-time funding won’t fix financial strain for DNR’s Fisheries Division
LANSING — Officials from the Fisheries Division of the Department of Natural Resources say further cutbacks on staffing and fish stocking are likely as the costs of operations rise. The division relies on licenses for much of its budget, but the price has remained consistent for more than a decade. Only restricted, one-time funding was included in the latest state budget. Some key lawmakers who oppose increased fees have said the DNR is mismanaged and shouldn’t get more public funding. Jim Francis, the coordinator of the Lake Erie Basin at the DNR, said Fisheries is already ...
