On The Ridge: Where’s your money going?
Published: 3/3/2021 6:25:46 PM
Modified: 3/3/2021 6:25:43 PM
Not since 1996 has the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife proposed any serious changes to the hunting and freshwater fishing license fees in the Commonwealth. But now, to ensure the continued conservation of wildlife, fish and plants in Massachusetts, the topic has come back to the surface.
Over the past two decades, MassWildlife has maintained a high level of programs and services through responsible fiscal management without needing to raise license fees at all. But with inflation looming at 67 percent since 1996, added responsibilities on the agency and steadily increasing state-mandated costs, revenue has not been meeting expenses for several years. Sporting and hunting license sales have declined drastically over the last 25 years, and the number of free licenses issued to those 70 years and older has totaled almost 27,000 per year.