STATE WILDLIFE OFFICIALS GO FISHING FOR NEW FUNDS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 26, 1992                   TAG: 9201270243
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C15   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
STATE WILDLIFE OFFICIALS GO FISHING FOR NEW FUNDS
Outdoor sportsmen are being urged to support a bill in the General Assembly that would net the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries an estimated $2.8 million annually for the acquisition, development and maintenance of fish, wildlife and boating areas.
Introduced by Del. Vic Thomas, D-Roanoke, the legislation would establish a $5.50 conservation permit that would be required of licensed inland fishermen, hunters, trappers and operators of motorboats.
"The funds derived from this permit would go to a special fund to provide lands and facilities for wildlife and those who enjoy wildlife and boating," said Leon Turner, of Fincastle, the board chairman of the game and fish department.
In a letter mailed to about 100 outdoor sports organizations, Turner said: "These funds would come home to you. We need your support."
"This is something we should have done a long time ago," said Thomas. "If we'd had something like this, we wouldn't have crumbling fish hatcheries and we wouldn't have a milelong list of needed boat launching sites."
Patrons of the bill include Roanoke Valley Dels. Richard Cranwell and Clifton Woodrum.
The game and fish department has compiled a list of capital funds projects that totals $52.5 million.
"This shows the vastness of the needs," said Larry Hart, the deputy director of the agency.
The largest expenditures are earmarked for fish hatchery repairs and construction, boating and fishing access, wildlife management areas and public fishing lakes.
The state operates nine fish hatcheries, some of them 60-year-old structures that are in bad need of repair or replacement, Hart said.
"Some fish hatcheries [are so bad they] probably are going to have to be closed," Thomas said.
The game and fish department rapidly has been falling behind in revenue provided by hunters, fishermen and boaters, Hart said. It is a special-funded agency that receives no general tax funds.
Some $1.5 million was trimmed from the current fiscal budget of $25 million and another $900,000 downward adjustment is in the making, said Hart. Revenue from hunting license sales, even with the new bonus deer tags, was down $400,000, and fishing license fees are expected to be off $250,000.
Funds from a conservation permit, however, could not be spent for current operating expenses, such as warden patrol boats, salaries and research, Hart said. They would be earmarked for capital outlay projects.
The conservation permit would let the agency divert about $500,000 in current capital funds to operating expenses, said Hart.
"Will the money be protected?" is the most frequent question being asked by sportsmen, said Hart.
The fact that Gov. Douglas Wilder diverted $1.2 million in boating funds to the general fund last year has left many sportsmen suspicious about the safety of the money they send to Richmond for fishing, hunting and boating programs.
"There are no guarantees, but these monies will be afforded the same protection as the hunting and fishing license monies that have been safe for 75 years," said Turner.
The governor's budget calls for reinstating the boating funds to the agency.
About 10 states have a conservation permit or stamp. The idea of adding Virginia to the list came out of a General Assembly subcommittee designed to explore additional ways to fund the game and fish department.
Earlier this year, the concept received good support from sportsmen during a statewide telephone survey conducted by the department. Some hunters and fishermen, however, have complained that they are being asked to provide all of the money for an agency that serves the needs of every citizen of the commonwealth.
The conservation permit could be purchased voluntarily by anyone interested in wildlife programs, but would be mandatory for those who purchase a license to hunt, fish or trap or who operate a motorboat. Fifty cents of each permit would go to the agent or clerk who sells the permit.
"I'm not a tax and spend man," said Thomas. "But I have maintained all along that the sportsman pay his own way. I feel like they will be less critical when they understand the money is solely for the acquisition, development or maintenance of fish, wildlife and boating areas. This is going to the future of our children and grand children."

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB