Fishermen and hunters are outraged about a plan tucked in the governor's proposed California budget to shift $30 million out of wildlife programs.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to borrow money from the Fish and Game Preservation Fund, which comes from hunting and fishing license fees, and use it to prop up other state programs. The funds would be repaid to wildlife programs by 2013 – with interest.
Critics, however, want the money to stay where it is and pay for wildlife programs.
"They've made some big blunders and caused problems for themselves, and it shouldn't be fishing licenses that hook them out," said Frank Hashorva, a member of the Rancho Murieta Fishing Club. "It's totally absurd."
The money represents about one-third of the fund's annual receipts from hunting and fishing license sales. It is a key operating fund for the department, supporting law enforcement, habitat and research projects.
Fish and Game spokeswoman Jordan Traverso said the loan will not affect department operations. The fund will still have a balance of about $3.1 million at the end of this fiscal year, in June.
She said budget language requires the money to be paid back sooner if the department is negatively affected.
"The severity of the (budget)situation is requiring that measures be taken across the board," Traverso said
The move is small compared with the state's budget deficit, estimated to reach $40 billion by June 2010.
H.D. Palmer, Department of Finance spokesman, said the loan must be approved as part of a legislative package to adopt the 2009-2010 budget.
Some fishermen claim the fund often runs a surplus when wildlife programs are in desperate need of money.
Brett Matzke, wild and native trout manager at the advocacy group California Trout, said fishing groups recently urged the department to spend $1 million from the fund to restore habitat for the Paiute cutthroat trout. He said the request was denied.
Some anglers, he said, are considering a "license burning" rally outside the Capitol.
Adding to their anguish is a hike in license fees this year, part of a routine inflation adjustment. A 2009 hunting license costs $37.30. A fishing license costs $41.20 – the most expensive in the nation, Matzke said.
"I would gladly pay more, and most fishermen would, if they could see results for what they're paying for," said Don Herrold of Rancho Cordova, a Central Valley angler for five decades.
Call The Bee's Matt Weiser, (916) 321-1264.
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