Please read and then post your comments.
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/data/BudgetSummaries2007/Game&Fish/Vol2Game&FishMainDoc.pdf
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/data/BudgetSummaries2007/Game&Fish/Vol2Game&FishMainDoc.pdf
From: http://www.agfc.com/!userfiles/pdfs/newsletters/AO/AO_052307.pdf
*Approved a budget increase of $187,000 for the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center. The money includes$125,000 from the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and $62,000 from the Governor’s Emergency Fund.
allocated as follows:
Operating Divisions % Expense Categories %
Law Enforcement 20.6% Salaries & Related Expenses 48.5%
Wildlife Management 18.1% Maintenance & Operations 34.6%
Fisheries Management 13.7% Capital Projects 12.6%
Education & Outreach 8.3% Equipment & Vehicle Purchases 4.3%
Capital Projects 12.6%
General Administration 4.0%
Support Services 22.7%
Support Services includes Communications, Construction Engineering and Real Estate,Fiscal Services, Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal, Operations, and River Basins divisions. This Biennium Budget would be allocated in approximately the proportions listed above, except for some adjustments related to construction and operation of the proposed nature centers and utilization of the Gas Lease Revenue line item
I agree with you and I think that the nature centers are a gross waste of money.Do you think the nature centers will even be used??
I don't see it!
Cut that percentage by at least a 1/3rd and give it to the enforcement division!
I am done .....
That's a good question that we will never get an answer to.What was the emergency at the Little Rock nature center that caused the governor to give them $62,000 out of his emergency fund?
I hear the Little Rock nature center will cost over $10 million when it's all said and done. Anyone know if this is true?
I must absolutely disagree with this statement. Now if you have never been to one, or saw the kids that come to these, I could understand your feelings. I might feel the same way. But since I have one but a few miles from my home, I see the value they have on our kids. Now of course what the value is to me or you or anyone else is gonna be different I understand. I think if I recall right the one here was built for like 5 million and I maybe wrong on that. But that is still a high number none the less. But this building will be in place for many generations of kids to visit and understand what the region is about and a lot about the wildlife in it. Nature and the conservation of our nature which includes hunting, is very important. Schools for the whole NE region bring kids to this one and I would dare say, most of the kids would never get to see the things thats in this one here. This Nature center here is very pro hunting and this is the type of stuff we need to help counter all the negative stuff our kids get fed in schools.I agree with you and I think that the nature centers are a gross waste of money.
Looks like I need to repeat something from another thread. The AGFC splits equally 1/8th tax money with State Parks. Let State Parks take care of all the bird watchers, bike riders, hikers, and flower sniffers. All of these are allowed and encouraged in State Parks. But you know who's not allowed in a State Park? Hunters. Nuff said.I for one am glad to see they're getting a lot of use out of the 1/8 cent tax. Unless they double license fees there's no way the AGFC could fund and maintain all the public land we have, and we hunters aren't the only ones that use it. It only makes sense to keep license fees down and have every resident toss a little $$ in the pot. Tree huggers and wildlife watchers, as well as non-hunting campers, bikers, backpackers and everyone else that uses the land get as much benefit from it as we do, and it's the AGFC's goal to get EVERYONE in the woods. I think they're doing a fine job of it, and the nature centers are a wonderful idea!