DNR Pinch?

[fletcherwilliams]

I understand Georgia is heading into a deficit. True? Will DNR feel the first pinch? EPD? Clean Air Campaign? Trout stocking cutbacks? No DH next year?

[The Owl]

hey Fletch. At the risk of being wrong and starting wwIII, I'll venture that the DNR/WRD has been in a pinch for quite a few years. I remember about a decade ago when soem state parks could only remain partially open due to budget restrictions.
I would guess that such a popular program as DH would be given every effort to keep it running. More volunteers( people that are off weekdays mostly) that can stock and people filling out the survey forms at Smith's(would boxes at Ami and the Hooch help, DNR? ) will help somehow too.


Owl

[RoyC]

Georgia is NOT going into a deficit. The Governor had agencies reduce their budgets 2 and 1/2 % for the year ending 6/30/02 and they had to submit a budget for year ending 6/30/03 with a 5% cut. Having said that the last fiscal year 6/30/01 we had the largest surplus the state has ever had. We budget very conservatively so we will not be in the same position as TN, Fla, SC NC AL etc.

RoyC

[Windknot]

Fletch,

To flesh this out a bit more, each agency now knows what it has available, and for the most part they can determine how it is allocated among their own departments. DNR took no worse a hit than any other agency.

I think I read (but I can't find it again) that DNR's EPD got a bye from the Governor regarding more warm bodies to toughen enforcement of erosion control . I may have misunderstood, but I hope not.

Yesterday's announcement that the "water war" between AL/GA/FL has ended is important to us, too. Naturally, the devil's in the details, and who knows when those will be made public?
Don

[War Eagle]

Fletch, where have you been? Give me a call in Athens. Did you get a job yet? See ya, JP