A recent audit of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has found that the agency is spending money faster than it is taking it in. Over the years, the department has been blessed with a plump surplus of money boasting a glut of some $28 million in 2001. Since that time the surplus is gone and the state has had to transfer $4.3 million into its account so it can continue to operate this next year.
The math is simple. When you spend more than you take in, you soon run out of money. Some issues contributing to the dilemma are: No increase in license fees in seven years, a decrease in license sales to young people and the exhorbitant monies spent to combat chronic wasting disease.
Tom Remington
