While broadcasting live from Bass Pro Shops this Saturday, I had the privilege of being joined on the program by Bob Broscheid, director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Since Broscheid was chosen as director, I have come to know him and consider him a friend. He is an avid outdoor enthusiast. He loves hunting and fishing. He has also been available and transparent on the issues facing Colorado Parks and Wildlife. We spoke about the wildlife side of the agency and the economic challenges ahead. As an outdoor enthusiast, he is adamant about not only maintaining but growing Colorado’s outdoor resources. As the director he understands we are heading toward some daunting budget issues.
Broscheid explained that even though Parks and Wildlife have merged, by law sourcing of funds and earmarking of those funds is very specific. Hunting and fishing licenses along with matching federal excise tax money account for 83 percent of wildlife’s budget, which receives no general tax funds. While license fees have not increased since 2005, expenses have. To date, under Broscheid’s watch, Parks and Wildlife has maintained its budget, but the bill is coming due. Broscheid and I were actually continuing a conversation from a week ago on my show when Matt Robbins, from Parks and Wildlife, and I started talking about infrastructure like dams and hatcheries that were built in the 1950s desperately needing to be updated, the fact that fish food has risen in cost by 100 percent and we all know what’s happened to things like vehicles and fuel.
As Broscheid and I continued our discussion, we agreed if you just ask if people would like a hike in fees, the answer is no. Conversely, if you asked would they mind giving up programs and resources, the answer is also no. Unfortunately those are the tradeoffs we are facing. Bob went on to say that those affected will go beyond just hunters and anglers. Anyone who enjoys the outdoors in Colorado will be affected. He also stated that someday the cost of managing our outdoor resources may also fall to the hikers and wildlife watchers in the state, but for hunters and anglers the future is now.
As I stated earlier I have found Broscheid to be very transparent. He wants the process of how to move forward to be open and with input from the stakeholders. A series of meetings is taking place around the state to get the input from the outdoor public. When I questioned Broscheid as to what was the response at the meetings, he said that at the beginning of the meeting people were 50-50 on fee increases. After the meeting and understanding the issues they were about 70-30 in favor. Parks and wildlife has established a website that gives the location and times of the meetings. In addition with information on budget expenditures and potential future reductions.
Parks and Wildlife will also need public support. In order to raise fees, they need to go to the legislature. I questioned Broscheid on the amount of increases. He said that has not been determined yet (it will be very dependent on the public input). He did say in order to maintain our current resources they would have to be substantial. In addition the agency would like to tie the fees to the consumer price index to avoid being back in this situation in the future.
One area in which Broscheid and I wholeheartedly agree is the importance of outdoor resources to the culture and economy of our state. We also want those outdoor opportunities available for our children and grandchildren. The level of availability of those resources now falls to the support of the outdoor public.
To hear my full interviews with Broscheid and Robbins, click on the links below.
https://soundcloud.com/1043thefan/matt-robbins-terry-wickstrom-outdoors-1
https://soundcloud.com/1043thefan/bob-broscheid-terry-wickstrom-outdoors-1
Don’t forget to join us every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. for all your outdoor information on Terry Wickstrom Outdoors on 104.3 The Fan and follow me on .
