Board of Public Works Votes to Reduce Maryland’s Fiscal Year 2020 Budget by $413.2 Million
General Funds for DNR’s Wildlife & Heritage Service Deleted
July 8, 2020
OVERVIEW
The pandemic is playing havoc, among other things, on State revenues.
Maryland is losing about $1 billion each month in revenue collections. All funding sources are down, ranging from gaming revenues to sales and income taxes – Maryland’s 3 largest revenue sources. On July 1st, the 3-Member Board of Public Works (Governor, Comptroller & Treasurer) met to vote on the Governor’s recommended $672 million in fiscal year 2020 spending reductions (July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020) in order to maintain a balanced budget as required by Maryland’s Constitution. Sparing education and employee salaries, BPW reduced spending cuts to $413.2 million.
A list of the cuts can be seen via the link below.
https://bpw.maryland.gov/MeetingDocs/2020-Jul-01-Agenda.pdf
Vowing to save existing jobs in Maryland State Government, the Governor made clear at the July 1st meeting the $200 million plus cuts avoided must still be taken in some way or form, leading to another round of anticipated State spending reduction at BPW’s July 22, 2020 meeting.
2020 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
We – Hunters of Maryland (HOM) – noted on this website in March 2020 our success in convincing the Hogan Administration and the General Assembly to approve an historic “First” for DNR’s Wildlife & Heritage Service (WHS). Within the fiscal year 2021 Supplemental Budget – funding jargon for an amendment to the original Budget Bill submitted by the Governor in early January of each year – our advocacy efforts to convince key lawmakers of the need for general fund support of WHS – aka, taxpayers in addition to licensed hunters – was awarded with a $100,000 general fund appropriation to WHS as was our efforts to keep 2 vacant positions within WHS which were originally cut by the Senate per the recommendation of the General Assembly’s staff agency.
Note: Details surrounding the efforts of securing approval of these monies coupled with saving 2 vacant positions within WHS are best conveyed through direct dialogue which HOM’s Advocate.
GOVENROR’S LIST OF SCHEDULED CUTS MADE PUBLIC ON JUNE 26, 2020
Below were the recommended cuts to DNR first made public on June 26, 2020.
“Department of Natural Resources - $3.2 million (1) Reduce supplies, equipment, travel, service contracts, subscriptions and utilities across the agency ($601k); (2) Reduce vehicle and vessel replacements for DNR’s non-Natural Resource Police (NRP) vehicle pool ($164k) and the NRP fleet ($100k vessels, $600k vehicles); (3) Eliminate extra salary support provided in the supplemental budget for the Wildlife and Heritage Service ($100k); (4) Reduce various local aid and grant programs by 10%: a. Critical Areas Commission grants ($18k) b. Revenue Equity Program payments to Allegany, Dorchester, Garrett and Somerset counties ($359k) and Parks and Forest PILOT payments to remaining counties ($200k) c. State Lakes Protection Fund ($100k); (5) Abolish 2 vacant positions (Administrative Officer and Aviation Mechanic) and fund swap one GF position for FF ($148k GF, $69k SF); (6) Eliminate the NRP aviation program ($402k); (7) Reduce GF support provided in the supplemental budget for Fair Hill and replace with SF racing revenue ($350k); and (8) Eliminate the Mel Noland Fellowship mandate ($50k).”
HOM ADVOACY ON BEHALF OF WHS
Our response was immediate. Attached is our statement to the Treasurer and Comptroller in defense of the $100,000 general fund appropriation to WHS, akin to the arguments used by HOM during the 2020 Session of the Maryland General Assembly. Simply stated, the rationale was 3-fold: (1) taxpayers share in the scientifically-based management of Maryland’s wildlife – so says the Public Trust Doctrine – not just licensed hunters per se; (2) requisite funding for attendant wildlife management cannot keep pace with the State’s insatiable appetite for increased land acquisition; and (3) available federal funds cannot be secured absent matching State dollars, thus forfeiture.
In addition to our written statement, calls were made directly to the Treasurer and Comptroller by incumbent and former State lawmakers on behalf of our position.
We learned late on July 1st that our collective efforts were unsuccessful – not only was the $100,000 in general funds deleted, but the 2 vacant positions within DNR were also deleted.
PERSPECTIVE
At first glance, we will not dispute having failed to convince BPW to spare the $100,000 + the 2 vacant positions. But, what if the $100,000 in general funds budgeted for WHS were not approved by the 2020 General Assembly? Is it not plausible that other core programs/services provided by WHS were spared as a consequence? Look no further than the fiscal decimation of the Natural Resources Police (NRP) by the BPW on July 1st? NRP lost its aviation unit, vehicles and boats.
Looking ahead, trust the Hunters of Maryland will not be dissuaded from its efforts on behalf of not only the hunting community, but also conservation law enforcement provided by the good men and women of the Natural Resources Police. True, reduced spending because of the pandemic will be a formidable barrier; but, we will be creative and relentless in our pursuit of ensuring that our coveted, yet finite, wildlife resources are protected.
Remember the immortal words of President Theodore Roosevelt: “Wildlife cannot speak for itself, there we must and we will”. Indeed, his words are our mantra.
