Re: NJ Senate to Hear Saltwater Registry Debate
By Lee Tolliver
The Virginian-Pilot
© September 13, 2009
The 2010 Budget Reduction Plan released recently by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has some anglers squirming.
Kaine has cut the General Fund contribution to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission by 15 percent and will extract $300,000 from the saltwater license fund to help pay for law enforcement support.
The fund uses money from the purchase of saltwater fishing licenses to support projects related to recreational fishing.
VMRC commissioner Steve Bowman said Friday that he understands why anglers are upset. But he cautioned that the governor is simply using options in the state code in his attempt to balance the budget.
"I understand that the constituency is concerned, but the Constitution of Virginia requires a balanced budget," Bowman said. "This has happened before.
"And the bottom line is that we're all doing the best we can in a very tough budget year."
Bowman said Kaine's budget also eliminates state funding for oyster replenishment projects and other programs that the VMRC oversees.
"This is tough on everybody," he said.
According to the VMRC Web site, the license fund is worth approximately $1.6 million.
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