LANSING — The Department of Natural Resources could see nearly a third of its full-time workforce cut under a spending proposal from the Michigan House.
The budget plan from state House Republicans would cut 10% of the DNR’s budget, concerning environmental advocates.
That figure is lighter than some of the cuts proposed at other agencies — but they would result in the loss of more than 430 positions across multiple divisions department.
“They don’t get a whole lot of money already as it is, and decreasing that — we are going to see some pretty devastating changes,” said Emily Smith, conservation policy manager for the Michigan Environmental Council.
Proposed cuts include 114 positions from Parks and Recreation, 56 from the Fisheries Division, 49 from the Wildlife Division, and 30 from Forest Resources.
Sen. John Cherry, who led the DNR funding proposal for Senate Democrats, says that the proposed cuts would disrupt forest maintenance at a time when more investment is needed.
“There’s cuts to wildfire protection. We know that’s going to be a major issue over the next five years in Northern Michigan because of the ice storm — cuts in timber market development,” said Cherry, (D) District 27, Flint.
Smith says that the department is already struggling to keep up with demands, including clean-up from the spring ice storm.
Out of 3200 miles originally impacted by debris, 700 miles of trails — or about 20% — remain closed.
“They don’t currently have the funding or the personnel to get out there and clean it up, and so having even more cuts to our state parks in that area is just doing everyone a disservice,” she said.
The plan would also cut 63 conservation officer positions.
Cherry says that conservation officers, who are fully licensed law enforcement officers, often provide crucial emergency response in sparsely populated areas.
“Oftentimes, the first responders in emergency situations are conservation officers — so this would reduce public safety support in Northern Michigan,” he said.
Last year, the DNR said they employ more than 1,300 full-time workers across the department.
State Rep. Ken Borton, who led the DNR’s budget proposal in the House, said last week that the department has grown to be over-funded in recent years.
“I talked with the DNR, and all I hear is, ‘we need more money, we need more money, we need more money’ — and I said, you know, for what? What are you going to do with this?,” said Borton, (R) District 105, Gaylord. “How are we going to provide more value to the sportsmen and women out there? And I never got an answer — it was just, ;we need more money’.”