BuzzH
Well-known member
You're clueless as always. Think you know everything but reality is you don't know shit from clay.Why do they continue to raise NR prices then? It's just a middle finger to people who are supporting the state and local businesses...
You claim to be some expert on everything Wyoming because you have an uninformed opinion and can copy and paste an article.
Wyoming GF surplus is about 60 million, give or take about 8 months of operating costs. Funny you find that sum as a middle finger.
Here's how and why it happened in the first place.
While you were most likely attending 10th grade, learning it all, the Wyoming legislature hit a tough patch in the budget. The legislature stripped 100 percent of all general fund money that went to the GF. Meaning the department had a shortfall to overcome.
Most all the ngos, and a bunch of us Wyoming sportsmen you despise, took action. We lobbied for and pushed through legislation to increase fees for both R and NR fees, which we did. At the same time we made it possible for the GF to retain funds and carry them from year to year. With no more chance at any funding coming from general funds via state dollars, there had to be a way to keep the lights on at the GF.
Several years later there was direction from the Governor, asking all state agencies to cut their budgets. Even though the GF had enough money, 100% self funded, the director agreed to cut the GF budget. That voluntary cut created a big chunk of the surplus that the GF has. The legislature couldn't rob that money since the department had not taken any general fund money.
So, there it is. Its not a middle finger, it's smart business to operate in the black and have a rainy day fund. It's my contention that is not for the resident hunters showing up to make that happen, you'd be paying significantly more for your tags. With huge cuts in pronghorn and deer tags over the past decade, it's only because of the surplus we took care of during better times, that tags for both R and NRs aren't significantly more.
Further, because of that surplus Wyoming has the luxury to spend more money in understanding migration corridors, build under/over passed, pay for access, robust collaring, and a host of other things to keep wildlife on the landscape.
All of that doesn't happen because you apply for a tag, buy a $50 bonus point, and bitch on a hunting board about how all you get is a middle finger.
Honestly that's about all you deserve.