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Hunting, fishing fee increases gain momentum Public sentiment suggests that ODFW could seek rate hikes to cover cost of expected budget shortfall By MARK FREEMAN Oregonians appear willing to accept higher hunting and fishing fees provided the extra money supports current Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife programs and doesn't fall into the black hole of government spending. But whether they will pay an average of $5 more for their licenses and tags next year is still several steps away. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, which met Friday in Medford, heard that the majority of public comments collected across the state approved of higher fees to keep biologists in the field and fish hatcheries in operation. "They're telling us that, 'We don't mind paying the increase, but what are we going to get for it?,'" said Don Denman, a commission member from Jacksonville. "'We don't want it to go toward administration services. We won't want it unless it helps us catch and keep more game, or catch and keep or release more fish.'" Denman said he supports the proposed fee increases to offset the $8 million budget shortfall expected in 2003-2005. Other commissioners said they would wait until the last public input trickles in later this month before endorsing any specific proposal. Commissioner Marla Rae of Salem believes some level of a fee increase - the first for hunters and anglers in four years - likely will go before the Oregon Legislature next year. "My expectation is that we give one to the Legislature as an option," Rae said. "Whether it makes up for all the shortfall, I don't know." The ODFW plans to cut as many as 30 field biologists, close two hatcheries and eliminate two enforcement jobs next year if it does not get all or part of a proposed fee increase on hunting and fishing fees. Locally, two wildlife biologists and one fish biologist would be laid off, and the Elk River Hatchery could be closed. The ODFW is mulling whether to ask the Legislature for a $5 increase to most resident fishing and hunting licenses and tags beginning in 2004. If granted, the move would increase the cost of a hunting license and deer tag to $42. A fishing license and a salmon-steelhead harvest tag would cost $46.25. Both are at or below average for Western states. Required cost-of-living raises for most of its 1,355 employees, hits to the employees' retirement accounts and inflation have created the projected shortfall in the agency's $215 million biennial budget. Commission members and top ODFW leaders toured Oregon last month to gauge public sentiment, stopping first in Medford. Commission Chairman John Esler of Portland said that, despite a small minority of negative comments falling under the category of "generic belly-aching of state government being flabby and under-worked," he was impressed with people's willingness to accept higher fees for continued fish and wildlife programs. But how these comments in town-hall meetings translate into reality lies more with how the proposed law is drafted before the Legislature ever votes on it, Esler said. "The devil's in the details," Esler said. "(But) we're in the strongest position I can see for going in and asking for this fee increase." ODFW Director Lindsay Ball said he will await input next week from the agency's special budget committee before forging any specific recommendation about fee increases. Whatever the commission recommends then will be forwarded to Gov. John Kitzhaber for consideration in his 2003-2005 budget request. But Kitzhaber's lame-duck status means his recommendations for all state agency budgets will then be handed over to the winner of this fall's gubernatorial election. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.