The DNR's budget director says the decision has not yet been made on whether fee increases will be requested in the next state budget.
Joe Polacek says it's too early to tell which way they will end up going on the fee packages. He says the agency is looking at its operating expenses and trying to find efficiencies. They also want to see what happens with deer hunting permit revenues this fall, which will help to determine if license increases are needed.
Polacek says a budget plan passed by the Natural Resources Board last week is fairly restrained, increasing the base budget by less than one percent. Still, some increases were seen for invasive species management, water quality issues, and dam repair and removal.
The DNR budget proposal will be advanced to the Governor and on to the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee when the state budget is proposed.
