Post by jackc99 on Jan 29, 2007 20:40:35 GMT -5
> Good Article in South Bend Tribune
>
> January 28. 2007 6:59AM
> Senior anglers need to step up
> COMMENTARY
>
> LOUIE STOUT
>
> Area sportsmen still reeling over Michigan's proposal to hike license fees
> can find some solace in that Indiana has no immediate plans for an increase.
>
> Of course, Indiana did that last year.
>
> However, Assistant Fish and Wildlife Director Gregg McCollam says it won't
> happen again any time soon.
>
> "The Governor (Mitch Daniels) made a promise to the people that our
> expenditures would not exceed revenues, so we have to operate in the black,"
> McCollam said.
>
> Well, that's fine. But what happens in a few years when the cost of doing
> business rises and license revenues stay the same?
>
> "At this juncture, all I can say is we are not going to exceed our
> revenues," McCollam said. "We are set through the next biennium (two years).
> That's as far as we plan."
>
> Make no mistake about it, though, that money won't hold out, especially if
> Indiana continues to lose license holders as most states are.
>
> As more baby boomers move toward retirement, Indiana is going to lose more
> license money. Current Indiana law doesn't require people over age 65 to
> have a fishing license.
>
> Michigan seniors buy a license, but they do get a discount. Of course, the
> new package would reduce the amount of that discount, and that has some of
> them riled.
>
> But look at the facts and you see why seniors are critical to DNR funding.
> According to Michigan DNR numbers, 157,126 seniors bought licenses in 1996.
> In 2006, 448,781 seniors bought licenses while sales to non-senior license
> holders has plummeted.
>
> There's a direct correlation between aging sportsmen and sagging license
> sales nationwide.
>
> The Indiana problem is more serious because free fishing for seniors means
> they can't be counted when Indiana seeks its apportionment in federal
> funding.
>
> That's why it's important that a new senior license bill gets serious
> consideration in the Indiana General Assembly this winter.
>
> The Indiana Sportsmen's Roundtable, Indiana Wildlife Federation and the
> Indiana Conservation Alliance is pushing hard for a senior license that
> makes a lot of sense.
>
> The bill would require seniors to buy a "Fish for Life" license for $3. In
> other words, it's a one-time deal, but one that would help the DNR generate
> about $1 million in federal money that it has never been able to claim. The
> Feds determine how much each state gets on the basis of its number of
> license holders.
>
> That money would be earmarked for stocking, hatcheries and other programs
> that anglers appreciate.
>
> "Every neighboring state has a senior license of some sort and they're
> getting money we can't get," said IWF Executive Director John Goss, a former
> Indiana DNR Director. "We're losing about $8 in federal money for every
> senior who fishes."
>
> By the way, that federal money comes from excise taxes on hunting and
> fishing equipment that sportsmen purchase throughout the year. So, it's our
> money going elsewhere as long as seniors fish for free.
>
> The age at which seniors would be required to buy a license (if the bill
> passes) remains up for debate. Presently, it sets the age limit at 60, but
> the DNR would lose about $350,000 in regular state license money under that
> plan.
>
> "I can see us reducing the age of the senior license, but I don't know that
> we want to go down to 60," Goss explained. "But if we can get something
> passed, it still will be cheaper for seniors to fish in Indiana than they do
> in other nearby states."
>
> House Bill 1299 is sponsored by Rep. John Ullmer of Elkhart. Let him know
> what you think.
>
> January 28. 2007 6:59AM
> Senior anglers need to step up
> COMMENTARY
>
> LOUIE STOUT
>
> Area sportsmen still reeling over Michigan's proposal to hike license fees
> can find some solace in that Indiana has no immediate plans for an increase.
>
> Of course, Indiana did that last year.
>
> However, Assistant Fish and Wildlife Director Gregg McCollam says it won't
> happen again any time soon.
>
> "The Governor (Mitch Daniels) made a promise to the people that our
> expenditures would not exceed revenues, so we have to operate in the black,"
> McCollam said.
>
> Well, that's fine. But what happens in a few years when the cost of doing
> business rises and license revenues stay the same?
>
> "At this juncture, all I can say is we are not going to exceed our
> revenues," McCollam said. "We are set through the next biennium (two years).
> That's as far as we plan."
>
> Make no mistake about it, though, that money won't hold out, especially if
> Indiana continues to lose license holders as most states are.
>
> As more baby boomers move toward retirement, Indiana is going to lose more
> license money. Current Indiana law doesn't require people over age 65 to
> have a fishing license.
>
> Michigan seniors buy a license, but they do get a discount. Of course, the
> new package would reduce the amount of that discount, and that has some of
> them riled.
>
> But look at the facts and you see why seniors are critical to DNR funding.
> According to Michigan DNR numbers, 157,126 seniors bought licenses in 1996.
> In 2006, 448,781 seniors bought licenses while sales to non-senior license
> holders has plummeted.
>
> There's a direct correlation between aging sportsmen and sagging license
> sales nationwide.
>
> The Indiana problem is more serious because free fishing for seniors means
> they can't be counted when Indiana seeks its apportionment in federal
> funding.
>
> That's why it's important that a new senior license bill gets serious
> consideration in the Indiana General Assembly this winter.
>
> The Indiana Sportsmen's Roundtable, Indiana Wildlife Federation and the
> Indiana Conservation Alliance is pushing hard for a senior license that
> makes a lot of sense.
>
> The bill would require seniors to buy a "Fish for Life" license for $3. In
> other words, it's a one-time deal, but one that would help the DNR generate
> about $1 million in federal money that it has never been able to claim. The
> Feds determine how much each state gets on the basis of its number of
> license holders.
>
> That money would be earmarked for stocking, hatcheries and other programs
> that anglers appreciate.
>
> "Every neighboring state has a senior license of some sort and they're
> getting money we can't get," said IWF Executive Director John Goss, a former
> Indiana DNR Director. "We're losing about $8 in federal money for every
> senior who fishes."
>
> By the way, that federal money comes from excise taxes on hunting and
> fishing equipment that sportsmen purchase throughout the year. So, it's our
> money going elsewhere as long as seniors fish for free.
>
> The age at which seniors would be required to buy a license (if the bill
> passes) remains up for debate. Presently, it sets the age limit at 60, but
> the DNR would lose about $350,000 in regular state license money under that
> plan.
>
> "I can see us reducing the age of the senior license, but I don't know that
> we want to go down to 60," Goss explained. "But if we can get something
> passed, it still will be cheaper for seniors to fish in Indiana than they do
> in other nearby states."
>
> House Bill 1299 is sponsored by Rep. John Ullmer of Elkhart. Let him know
> what you think.