Bill introduced that would increase license fees
Published 12:01 am Monday, January 24, 2011
According to Allen Thomas, of The Vancouver Columbian, legislation was introduced this past Thursday for the first across-the-board increase in Washington hunting and fishing license fees in 14 years.
Here’s more info courtesy Thomas:
“House Bill 1387 would result in an increase in rev
enue from hunting licenses of 7.3 percent, 12.6 percent from sport-fishing licenses and 51.4 percent from commercial licenses.
“Rep. Brian Blake, D-Aberdeen, and Rep. Bruce Chandler, R-Granger, are the prime sponsors. The measure was introduced at the request of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Sen. Debbie Regala, D-Tacoma, is expected to introduce a companion measure in the Senate today.
‘This legislation is our top priority for this legislative session,’ said Phil Anderson, director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. ‘Its outcome will greatly determine this department’s ability to maintain fishing and hunting opportunities and move forward with conservation efforts around the state.’
“A resident freshwater fishing license would jump from $26 to $29.50 (13 percent) and a combination freshwater-saltwater-shellfish resident license from $48.20 to $54.25 (13 percent).
“The Columbia River salmon-steelhead endorsement stays at $8.75, although there is a 10-cent increase in catch record cards from $12.50 to $12.60.
“An elk license would increase 26 percent from $45.20 to $57, while a deer license would decrease 1 percent from $45.20 to $44.90.
“Craig Bartlett of the Department of Fish and Wildlife in Olympia said agency is trying to better link license fees to the costs of managing the respective programs.
“For example, a license for moose, sheep or mountain goats would increase from $122 to $332, yet a Western Washington pheasant license would drop from $92 to $84.50.
“A salmon gillnet license would increase from $480 currently to $585 under the legislation.
“The department is facing a $10 million to $20 million shortfall in state General Fund money plus about a $10 million reduction in the state Wildlife Account, which mostly comes from license revenue, in the 2011-13 budget cycle.
“The agency has cut $30 million to $40 million to balance its $348 million budget in the 2009-11 cycle. It shed 110 positions to leave the agency at about 1,400 employees, most of whom take 10 unpaid furlough days.”
