Proposed fee increase necessary for IF&W

    Proposed modest fee increases on fishing and hunting licenses are necessary for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to maintain its important fish and wildlife programs — efforts that sustain Maine’s outdoor traditions and enable the Department to protect and preserve the natural resources, the lifeblood of our economy.     Six years have passed since hunting and fishing license fees have increased. In 2005, however, license fees actually decreased by $1. Under the current fee increase proposal, hunting and fishing licenses would go up $2.50 starting Jan. 1, 2010, and an additional $1 starting Jan. 1, 2011.
    In 2009, a combination hunting and fishing license costs $38 plus a $2 agent fee. In other words, for a person to be in the outdoors to hunt or fish 365 days costs 11 cents per day! After a fee increase of $3.50, it would still cost less than 12 cents per day. The value of the opportunity and experience far exceeds this modest cost.
    By comparison, a $3.50 fee increase still is less than a pack of cigarettes ($6), one six pack of the least expensive beverage of preference ($6.50), and a pound of coffee ($9). Since the last license fee increase, everything else from milk and eggs to clothes and cars has steadily gone up. Gas went from $1.20 in 2002 to more than $4 in July of 2008.
    Furthermore, $40 to hunt or fish 365 days a year is far cheaper than most other forms of recreation: $400 for a family of four to take in a ballgame at Fenway Park; $60 – $70 for dinner and drinks for a couple; $60 for a family of four to dine out; $50 to take a family of four to the movies; and $135 for a day of skiing (rentals, lift ticket, lunch, and gas).
    Fisheries and Wildlife’s proposed budget for 2010 is about $39 million, with about $22 million coming directly from the sale of licenses and registrations. Of the rest, approximately $9.3 million comes from federal funds, $5.9 million from several dedicated revenue sources such as the sale of license plates, timber from habitat management, and moose permit auctions. Only $1.9 million of the Department’s entire budget comes from general state tax revenues.
    A total fee increase of $3.50 would represent $722,500 in 2010 and $1,621,375 in 2011. Without the fee increase, the Department could very well lose 22 essential biologist, licensing, marketing, and game warden positions, and one hatchery. With the fee increase, the Department still would be forced to cut seven positions.
    When one considers that the impact of hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, boating, snowmobiling, ATV riding, and whitewater rafting — all industries the Department has a major role in — has a combined $2.4 billion annual impact on the economy, modest fee increases have an incredible return on investment.
    Support for a fee increase is greatly needed to ensure Fisheries and Wildlife’s ability to protect and preserve our natural resources, the lifeblood of our economy, as well as our heritage, and the legacy we will leave behind.
    Roland “Danny” Martin is the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Visit the MDIF&W website to view an important, brief video entitled “A Wicked Good Deal For Maine” at www.mefishwildlife.com.