Here are my suggestions regarding a couple of potential budget cuts within the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Let me say that I support WDFW and its’ mandate to manage and protect our fish and wildlife resources.
One of my ultimate goals is to insure that hunting and fishing are available for generations to come.
I do have two budget cut suggestions for the WDFW budget that will enhance their efficiency.
The first
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Here are my suggestions regarding a couple of potential budget cuts within the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Let me say that I support WDFW and its’ mandate to manage and protect our fish and wildlife resources.
One of my ultimate goals is to insure that hunting and fishing are available for generations to come.
I do have two budget cut suggestions for the WDFW budget that will enhance their efficiency.
The first is in regard to the exiting six Regional Director positions within the Department. Each of these positions incurs a budget impact that is greater than six-figures annually. The total cost annually is in excess of 600-thousand dollars and 1.2-million dollars in each biennium.
To clarify my suggestion, the WDFW is a centralized management system. Each of the Divisions within the Department is ultimately managed or supervised from Olympia. The Regional Directors have no supervisory role. They have no direct authority for Division decisions and they do not supervise any division personnel within the region. Eliminating these positions would provide a budget savings that is substantial and there would be no adverse effect on the operations of the Department.
My second suggestion is to audit funds dedicated to the Enforcement Division of the Department. The Enforcement budget provides for personnel and operational fund costs. The present administration of this Division unilaterally co-mingles these two funds and holds positions open to provide the dollars to increase operational spending.
One example of bad operational spending is a decision in the last biennium to change all of the enforcement uniform patches and decals to “Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Police”. The previous patch did not have the word “police”. This change was not approved by then Director of Fish and Wildlife, Jeff Koenings and he stated to me when I asked that he would never approve this expenditure or change the role of Fish and Wildlife enforcement officers. I guess we can assume that Director Koenings didn’t direct Chief Bjork! Wildlife Enforcement Chief Bruce Bjork unilaterally authorized the patch and decal change at around a cost of $30,000.
Just last month, Chief Bjork, under the present Director Phil Anderson authorized ANOTHER patch, decal and badge change that now reads simply POLICE. The word “enforcement” was removed. If the cost a couple of years ago was $30,000 then there is a need for an audit to see what this most recent cost was to the tax payers which includes buying new badges as well. This is another mismanagement of public funds and an unnecessary budget expense. Furthermore, I am confident that a majority of fish and wildlife constituents have a clear expectation that their “Game Wardens” not be identified as “policemen”. Their traditional role is unique, professional, historic and universally recognized and respected.
I also question the use of public funds for Chief Bjork to participate in WASPC (Washington Association of Sheriff and Police). The membership funds are public tax dollars. Wildlife Enforcement Chief Bruce Bjork is the current chairman of the association and most recently he provided gold medallions to each of his officers that have his name as president and the “new” WDFW POLICE insignia on the face of the piece. I think an audit of this fund expenditure is also in order. If the public pays for the association dues and travel for a state employee then the expending of those funds within the association also need to have an audit review. The gold medallions are a worthless item and another expense that is not justifiable.
I look forward to your response on all of these items and I am prepared to elaborate, justify and expand with more specificity if and when necessary.
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