DNR budget update

The Natural Resources Commission meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m. on Thursday, January 8, 2004 and reconvened at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, January 9, 2004. Commissioner Parfet returned for this portion of the meeting.

BUDGET UPDATE

Kelli Sobel, Administrative Services Deputy, reported that the DNR has made attempts to provide appropriation authority to continue with acquiring deer yards and other areas. The preliminary decision from the Legislature is that the DNR was denied these appropriations as well as denied funds for additional wildlife equipment needs. She continued to discuss the status of other budget issues and said that Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes is also a problem.

Ms. Sobel said that an Attorney General decision was rendered that says if monies are not appropriated to pay taxes, the DNR cannot pay them. Commissioner Garner said that this is a Legislative issue, and it needs to be resolved in the Legislature. Commissioner Brown asked if the Legislators in the districts where taxes are due have been individually notified. They have not.