hr881_LC_96_2690_a_2.html
07 LC 96 2690
House Resolution 881
By: Representatives Lane of the 158th, Knight of the 126th, Burns of the 157th, Lane of the 167th, Heard of the 104th, and others

A RESOLUTION


Urging the State of Georgia to reallocate funds obtained from sportsmen's license fees from the state's general fund to the Wildlife Management Area land acquisition program for hunting and fishing; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, hunting and fishing are important parts of Georgia's cultural fabric and rich history; and

WHEREAS, the Wildlife Resources Division of the Department of Natural Resources is the most important group in Georgia affecting the future of hunting and fishing in this state; and

WHEREAS, the funding of the game management, fisheries management, and law enforcement sections of the Wildlife Resources Division of the Department of Natural Resources is accomplished primarily through the sale of license fees to sportsmen; and

WHEREAS, in the mid-1980s, Georgia's sportsmen recognized the need to purchase land for the preservation of hunting and fishing opportunities, and they have been the leading group of Georgians to provide direct financial support to Georgia's land and wildlife conservation; and

WHEREAS, sportsmen voluntarily shouldered an increase in license fees so as to use these additional funds to purchase land for Georgia's Wildlife Management Area system; and

WHEREAS, GO bonds were issued by Georgia to fund the acquisition of these lands; and

WHEREAS, that land, now totaling more than 60,000 acres, has been purchased and paid for in its entirety by Georgia's sportsmen; and

WHEREAS, the license fee funds used to retire that debt are no longer required to retire that debt; and
WHEREAS, those funds annually have averaged $4,537,851.00 per year in each year since 2000; and

WHEREAS, the total contribution to the state's general fund generated by the 1987 license fee increase totaled $83,137,035.00 through June of 2006 and continues to increase each day; and

WHEREAS, the total cost to retire the bonds used to purchase land over these years totaled only $54,027,470.00, creating an overpayment by sportsmen in the amount of $29,109,565.00; and

WHEREAS, the need to purchase land for sportsmen and their activities remains today; and

WHEREAS, the $4,537,851.00 annual license fees that have been paid to debt retirement can now be returned to the current operating budget of the game management, fisheries management, and law enforcement divisions of the Wildlife Resources Division for now and into the future.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that this body hereby urges the members of the General Assembly to consider plans to reallocate the $29 million in excess funds deposited into the state general fund since 1987 to the sportsmen's land acquisition program to be used to fund the Wildlife Management Area land acquisition program for hunting and fishing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Georgia Outdoor Network and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.