Proposed cuts to FWC officers

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TerryW
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Proposed cuts to FWC officers

Post by TerryW »

http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/articl ... d=24858384

Unless you are a poacher, you need to speak up now to prevent cuts to our FWC officers.


Proposed wildlife officer cuts alarm some legislators

The possible cutting of 130 state wildlife officer positions and state spending reductions for invasive species control had some legislators raising concerns on Wednesday.

The scenarios came about after Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders directed agencies to identify ways to reduce their budgets by 10 percent in fiscal year 2012-13. State revenue is expected to decline again next year but the amount has not yet been estimated.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in September identified $19.2 million in spending cuts including $2.4 million in general revenue and $16.8 million from trust funds.

The proposed reductions include eliminating the 130 law enforcement positions to save $6.2 million. Of the agency's $24.7 million in general revenue, $23 million is dedicated to law enforcement.

"These are difficult choices to put on the table," Sandra Wilson, the agency's chief financial officer, told the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.

"We are not asking you to take these as cuts," she said. "We are simply providing them as a list of ideas you can select from to meet the goals you've got to balance the budget."

Rep. Franklin Sands, D-Weston, said he doesn't see how the agency can carry out its mandate of protecting fish and wildlife resources with fewer officers. He said the cuts represent a "false economy."

"What's going to happen is by cutting the programs, we're going to have even bigger problems in the future," Sands said. "It will cost us more than we think we are saving with these budgetary cuts."

Rep. Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota, said the proposed law enforcement reduction "bothers me a lot." He asked whether there are smaller reductions the agency could absorb.

"There are always places where you can trim down and do better and be more efficient," Wilson responded. "We are always pushing toward that end."

Other proposed reductions include $3.7 million from the agency's budget of $34.3 million for invasive plant management. That program also was cut by $6.5 million in the 2011-12 fiscal year budget in what was called a nonrecurring reduction.

Rep. Leonard Bembry, D-Greenville, said invasive species control "represents a pretty good-size threat."

"That's the kind of thing once it gets ahead of you, you lose exponentially the next time you try to catch back up," Bembry said.

Wilson responded that if the cuts are made, the agency would prioritize "towards the end of protecting Florida's waterways and fish and wildlife resources."

Rep. Luis Garcia, Jr., D-Miami, said he agreed that the state could be "digging itself a hole" and should hear from "people on the ground" about the effects of the proposed spending cuts.

Rep. Trudi Williams, R-Fort Myers and committee chairwoman, said a workshop could be held to explore the unintended consequences. She said she agreed there could be consequences of being "penny-wise and pound-foolish."

"We need to take a careful look at all this," Williams said. "This is just a preliminary, 'Let's see what you got, let's see what the agencies think they can do without.' "
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krash
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Re: Proposed cuts to FWC officers

Post by krash »

Its sad but it is what it is.. we all keep bit'n about not wanting to pay more taxes, higher fees or prices for anything, but then we all bit'n when the cuts become a reality, unfortunately we can't have it both ways.
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TerryW
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Re: Proposed cuts to FWC officers

Post by TerryW »

That's true, Krash. Unfortunately "starving the beast" is alive & well & I suspect that some people who bought into the bait and switch won't like the final outcome. It's painful to watch us lose more FWC officers as well as public lands.
35/34.5/26 24/22/1/1

I finally found Cow Creek. It's at the end of the Road to Nowhere!
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