Introduction
On June 29, 2007, the Governor, House and Senate notified state agencies of a projected shortfall in fiscal year 2007/08 revenues and instructed them to prepare a list of potential reductions by August 8, 2007. The agency lists are to equal 10 percent of recurring appropriations, which is significantly more than the 4 percent estimated shortfall. This is done to present enough options to allow the Legislature to be selective in reaching their goal. The following list contains the submission from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. These issues are all important and valuable to the agency, and it is our sincere hope that very little of what is listed here will actually be eliminated. However, we also recognize that in hard times, sacrifices must be made to keep the State solvent. Executive Summary
To prepare this list, agency division directors got together and carefully reviewed all recurring programs and activities with the agency. The directors felt that after the recent restructure and measures taken to live within diminishing means, there is very little left of agency operations that is not high priority and mission essential. Because of this, most of the listed issues were selected based on impact rather than priority. Directors looked for activities which could be deferred during tight financial times and picked back up again as times get better without significant loss or set back. They tried to avoid interrupting efforts already underway or commitments already made and they took into consideration local versus statewide impact. They also avoided dismantling current efficient programs which would require significant start-up costs to re-establish at a later date. In the case of General Revenue (GR), there was not much flexibility because it is focused in very specific areas within the agency. The Division of Law Enforcement uses 78 percent ($44 million) of the agency’s total recurring GR and accordingly was significantly represented. In addition, the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute is appropriated $9.2 million GR, over half of which is directed to support red tide research and much of which is used as match for federal research grants. In most cases, directors were able to focus on eliminating whole activities rather than skimming a percentage across the board. However, for GR it was necessary to reduce the scale of law enforcement and red tide research in order to meet the target reduction. 1. Eliminate Red Tide Control and Mitigation Grants ($850,000) GR FWRI
This is a competitive grant program designed to fund environmentally acceptable techniques or technologies for potential control or mitigation of red tide blooms and their effects in Florida. Economic impacts of red tides in Florida have been estimated to exceed $20 million annually. This program, which fosters collaborations between FWC and numerous partners (universities, local governments, non-profit research labs, and citizens groups), funds projects designed to minimize the size, intensity, or duration of red tide blooms or reduce the environmental, economic, social, or public health impacts of future red tides in Florida. Exploring environmentally sound methods to reduce or eliminate the effects of red tide is important economically and socially to Floridians and visitors, but this is a new initiative and therefore is considered a lesser priority than our focused red tide monitoring and research efforts. Activity affected: ACT0530. 2. Eliminate Smithsonian Marine Ecosystem Exhibit Contract ($80,000) GR FWRI
This contract helps support marine education programs targeting local K-12 schools in the Ft. Pierce area. On-site educational programs and public outreach events would be severely curtailed if the contract were eliminated. Reduced support for the living marine resource exhibit, including husbandry and infrastructure costs, may result in reduced operating hours and threaten closure of the facility. These programs are extremely popular in the region, but were determined to be of lower priority due to limited geographic scope. Activity affected: ACT0500. 3. Eliminate Manatee Avoidance Technology Sonar Grants ($115,000) MRCTF FWRI
This competitive grant awards program is directed at funding potential sonar-related solutions to protecting manatees from collisions with watercraft. The agency has identified a specific need to evaluate the use of sonar to reduce manatee-boat interactions. A broad range of people, institutions, and agencies are eligible to receive these grants. Groups eligible to receive grants include government agencies (local, county, state, and federal research entities), schools (public universities or independent non-profit colleges, especially those located within Florida and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges), and non-profit organizations with scientific, environmental, or natural resource missions. This program was determined to be of lesser priority than core manatee research and monitoring programs due the fact that it is focusing on developing new technological solutions rather than applying existing protection approaches. The full appropriation is $200,000 (category 101135). The $115,000 identified here is the amount available in FY 07/08 which is not already committed in long-term contracts. Activity affected: ACT0515. 4. Eliminate Smithsonian Biological Monitoring Contract ($124,800) MRCTF FWRI
This contract supports the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce’s long term biological monitoring initiatives in the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie estuary. It is a critical source of water quality and biological monitoring information used by the agency and both the South Florida and St. Johns River Water Management Districts. Monitoring and analysis of ongoing environmental impacts associated with the management of Lake Okeechobee water levels would be severely curtailed or eliminated if this contract is terminated. This program was determined to be of lower priority due to its limited geographic scope. Activity affected: ACT0500. Return to top 5. Reduce Red Tide Monitoring and Research ($1,200,000) GR FWRI
This issue would eliminate or severely curtail collaborative research and monitoring efforts between Mote Marine Laboratory and the agency to:1) determine the role of natural and human factors contributing to red tide formation and intensity, 2) implement automated technology to provide continuous, real-time monitoring of conditions where red tides develop and persist, including a new beach alert system, 3) monitor waters in support of shellfish safety regulations initiated by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and 4) investigate the linkage between land-based nutrient pollution and red tide strength and persistence. The projects to be eliminated, while critical to our understanding of red tides and their impacts, were determined to be of lesser priority because they involved detailed investigations and expanded monitoring beyond our traditional red tide research and monitoring programs. Activity affected: ACT0530. 6. Eliminate Florida Keys Mooring Buoy Contract ($25,000) MRCTF FWRI
This contract helps support the installation and maintenance of mooring buoys in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Properly maintained mooring buoys are a necessity for ensuring the safety of boaters, divers, and snorkelers and protecting coral reefs from damage due to boat anchors. This program was determined to be of lesser priority due to its limited geographic scope. Activity affected: ACT0500. 7. Eliminate Oceanaria Reimbursements for Manatee Rehabilitation and Support for the University of Florida Marine Mammal Veterinary Program ($2,000,000) MRCTF FWRI
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has managed the Oceanaria Reimbursement Assistance Program for rescued, rehabilitated, and released Florida manatees since 1991. Since July, 2000, $1.15 million annually has been available to reimburse the three contracted and federally permitted manatee rehabilitation facilities in Florida: Lowry Park Zoo, Miami Seaquarium, and Sea World Florida. These facilities are involved in the rescue and full-time acute-care, veterinarian-based rehabilitation of manatees. Termination of this funding would eliminate the oceanaria reimbursement program and dramatically reduce or eliminate FWC’s options to rescue and rehabilitate injured manatees. The University of Florida Marine Mammal Program is a joint endeavor of the College of Veterinary Medicine and FWC. This program was developed to promote the health and understanding of marine mammals in Florida and is one of the few initiatives in the country training veterinarians, veterinary medical students, and related professionals in the care of marine mammals. This program has also provided much needed expertise to FWC Marine Mammal Pathobiology Lab through externships. Termination of this funding would eliminate this program and the collaboration with FWC. These programs were determined to be of lesser priority due to the relatively few individuals rehabilitated and released annually. The funding source for this appropriation is documentary stamp taxes statutorily dedicated to marine mammal care. Re-direction of the savings to GR may require statutory changes to ss.201.15(11) and 370.0603(3), FS. Activities affected: ACT0515 and ACT0585. 8. Eliminate Boating Safety Education Grants and Manatee Avoidance Technology Grants ($400,000) MRCTF DLE
The Division of Law Enforcement is appropriated $200,000 in the Boating and Waterways Activity for Boating Safety Education Grants and another $200,000 to funding manatee avoidance technology projects. Elimination of these projects would reduce opportunities for local governments to receive grants to provide boating safety education, reduce the opportunities for new and continued research into manatee avoidance technologies, and would reduce division staff travel to related meetings, conferences, and workshops. The boating safety grants were identified as a lower priority because there is very little interest on the part of local government to apply for them. The manatee avoidance technology was determined to be of lesser priority due the fact that it is focusing on developing new technological solutions rather than applying existing protection approaches. The funding source for these appropriations is marina fuel taxes. Activity affected: ACT2410. 9. Eliminate Nuisance Alligator Trapper Stipend ($210,000) SGTF DHGM
This appropriation provides supplemental compensation to nuisance alligator trappers for alligators taken under the statewide nuisance alligator program. The primary source of trapper compensation for this activity is the sale of meat and hides from the nuisance alligators they collect. If the stipend were terminated, it would reduce the income of contract nuisance alligator trappers, and some trappers may not wish to continue providing these services without the stipend. A significant loss of nuisance trappers could cause a reduction in services such as slower response times during the period of time necessary to hire replacement trappers. This issue was included as a lower priority because the fee is supplemental and most trappers would likely continue to provide the service without the stipend. Activity affected: ACT3150. 10. Eliminate New Financial Analyst Position (1 FTE & $200,000) ATF OFB
The 2007 Legislature provided a position and funding to support detailed trust fund analyses and regular financial review and reporting similar to practices currently implemented within the Department of Environmental Protection. The impact of eliminating this FTE & funding would be to extend implementation of these practices within FWC over a much longer time period. This issue was identified as a lower priority because it is an enhancement which has not yet been implemented. Activity affected: ACT0090. Return to top 11. Eliminate facilitation contracts for advisory board and workgroup activities - $40,000 MRCTF DMFM
The division is currently using marine fisheries advisory boards/workgroups to assist the agency in the management of the blue crab, tropical aquarium fish, spiny lobster, red drum, and stone crab fisheries. While some workgroups may sunset, others are expected to be formed to address emerging fishery management needs. Division staff rely on contract support to sustain management of multiple work groups and boards through the assistance of professional facilitators who help organize and run meetings of these groups. Loss of this function would require the Division to reduce the formation of new workgroups and reduce the meeting schedules of others. This reduction would limit the ability of the agency to garner public support from stakeholders for regulatory or management actions that are needed to successfully protect and maintain Florida’s marine fisheries resources and fishing industries. This issue was selected for potential cut because there are alternatives and it can be geared down and back up again without significant loss. Activity affected: ACT5000. 12. Reduce NonCARL Land Management ($3,003,303) SGTF DHSC
The Division of Habitat and Species Conservation has reviewed and prioritized its recurring land management budget and identified $3,003,303 of recurring NonCARL Enhancement funds (category 100340) for review in this issue. These projects are in four broad categories that include Habitat Enhancement, Monitoring, Public Access\Recreation, and General Operations\Equipment and are restricted to public lands within the wildlife management area system. Habitat Enhancement identified projects totaling $940,637 which include such activities as: (1) prescribed burning for approximately 14,000 acres which could result in degraded wildlife habitat and increased wildfire opportunities; (2) exotic plant control for 3,800 acres which prevents infestations from spreading to adjoining natural plant communities. If these projects were eliminated, overall habitat restoration efforts would be reduced by 370 acres. Five restoration sites have undergone site preparation and several are ready for phase two restoration. Postponing the second phase of restoration will require additional expenditures to restart the process. This reduction would also prevent HSC from planting 1,840 acres of food plots decreasing wildlife viewing opportunities for the public. Wildlife monitoring identified projects totaling $641,287. Elimination of these projects could compromise past expenditures directed at long term projects, such as threatened and endangered species population trends, plant community restoration, and monitoring game populations for determining season and bag limits. Potentially, budget for Public Access\Recreation would be reduced by $442,500. Elimination of these projects would eliminate approximately 150 miles of road repair and maintenance necessitating road closures in several wildlife management areas. It would also eliminate safety upgrades to public use structures such as observation towers and boardwalks, and delay development of kiosks, trails, boardwalks and observation towers. General Operations\Equipment repairs identified projects totaling $978,879. Elimination of these projects would delay replacement of vehicles that have already exceeded mileage and age criteria resulting in safety issues and high maintenance costs. General operation of the wildlife management areas would be negatively impacted statewide which includes maintenance and fuel for vehicles and equipment. See list of NonCARL Land Management Fund projects The funding source for these appropriations is documentary stamp taxes statutorily dedicated to land management. Re-direction of the savings to GR may require statutory changes to s.210.15, FS. The projects in this issue were selected for potential reduction because they are those which have not already been started and can be deferred to a later date without serious consequence or significant loss. Activity affected: ACT3050. Return to top 13. Reduce Lake Restoration Projects $4,094,749 SGTF DHSC
The Division of Habitat and Species Conservation reviewed and prioritized its recurring lake restoration/enhancement funds (category 101012) and identified projects totaling $4,094,749 for review in this issue. In total, these projects represent 47 percent of the total recurring funding available for aquatic restoration/enhancement projects and lake management statewide. While funding is insufficient in any given year for 100 percent of HSC’s priority projects, the original budget covers approximately 68 percent of the funding need for FY07/08 projects. This level of reduction would leave only 36 percent of the funding need available. Engineering services for large lake and wetland projects would be stopped, delaying the start up and planning for current and future restoration projects. Monetary contributions to partners for various enhancement and restoration projects would be reduced or withdrawn. Monitoring of aquatic plant and animal communities needed to evaluate present and future restoration activities would be reduced. The identified projects fall into two broad categories that include Habitat Enhancement/Restoration & Engineering Services, and Monitoring/Research. There are 52 Restoration/Enhancement projects listed. These projects include hydrological restoration of wetlands, restoration of natural plant communities, dredging of organic sediments, structure/levee alterations and repairs, and engineering services needed for large scale habitat restoration projects to mention a few. They include aquatic habitat work on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Istokpoga, Panasoffkee, Orange, Lochloosa, Newnans and Josephine as well as 45 other lakes statewide. In areas surrounding metropolitan Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa, all enhancement work and basic lake management would be postponed if these projects are terminated. It would also negatively impact or stop hydrological restoration of wetlands directly linked to lakes and rivers on public lands. In addition, five monitoring/research projects needed to evaluate current techniques and provide scientific data to support proposed enhancement activities would be eliminated. Development of new and innovative approaches for field biologists managing critical fish and wildlife habitat is derived from these monitoring efforts. See list of Aquatic Restoration/Enhancement Fund projects The funding source for this appropriation is documentary stamp taxes statutorily dedicated to lake restoration. Re-direction of the savings to GR may require statutory changes to s.210.15, FS. The projects in this issue were selected for potential reduction because they are those which are not already started and can be deferred to a later date without serious consequence or significant loss. Activity affected: ACT3600. 14. Reduce Law Enforcement (70 FTE, $3,383,040) GR; (20 FTE, $963,714) MRCTF
Out of the agency’s total recurring budget, 76 percent of the General Revenue and 24 percent of the trust fund appropriations support the Division of Law Enforcement. It is then unavoidable to include some portion of the division in any need to significantly reduce agency appropriations. Due to the Division of Law Enforcement’s primary role of fish, wildlife and boating safety law enforcement patrol, the vast majority of its appropriations are used for salaries of employees that provide or support the patrol function. Reducing the number of employees is the only viable solution to reducing large amounts of funding. The Division has identified 36 vacant positions that could be eliminated to reduce the use of General Revenue (GR) and the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund (MRCTF). Twenty-five of these vacancies are funded directly by GR ($1,234,650) and 11 are funded by MRCTF ($536,036). In addition, 45 filled GR positions are included at $47,742 each ($2,148,390) and 9 filled MRCTF positions are included at $47,742 each ($429,678).
In June 2006, the International Association of Chiefs of Police completed a staffing study for the division. The intent of the study was to help the Division with the allocation of its available personnel based upon historical data such as resources needing protection, enforcement activities and calls for service from the public. The staffing study resulted in several recommendations to improve the Division’s efficiency, improve data collection and reporting. The study also resulted in the recommendation to increase the division by one captain, 53 lieutenants, 21 investigators, three pilots and 205 officers. It is important to note that according to this study, the division is currently severely understaffed. The loss of these positions would be detrimental to the mission of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission because it would reduce our ability to protect the resources and people of the state of Florida. The reduction would result in reduced high visibility patrols in manatee areas, panther areas, wildlife management areas, and popular boating and fishing areas. These patrols are designed to be a deterrent to illegal activities. Our officers are encouraged to participate in proactive enforcement efforts that are designed to prevent violations through education. Reducing positions would require remaining officers to be more response oriented and proactive enforcement would suffer significantly. Our ability to respond rapidly to calls for service from the public would be reduced due to fewer people being available to respond and available officers will have to cover larger patrol zones. The number of boating accidents and fatalities are on the rise, primarily in South Florida, and South Florida is also where most of the vacancies are located and where the highest numbers of reductions would have to occur. Not only would this reduce our ability to respond to boating accidents, it would leave us less likely to prevent accidents through proactive patrol. Our ability to respond to man-made and natural disasters would also be adversely impacted. Responding safely to major catastrophic events requires extensive training, preparations, logistics and scheduling. Having less people to respond to such events presents additional workload and dangers to those that do respond. Some of the vacant positions are investigators and reducing their numbers would have an additional negative impact on public safety. Investigators are our front line on inspections and enforcement of the captive wildlife rules. Investigators also investigate boating accidents, hunting accidents, and other critical incidents that have a direct impact on the safety of Florida’s citizens and visitors.
The division does not propose the associated expense or overtime appropriation be reduced. If positions are reduced, the overtime and expense would be used to attempt to offset some of the negative impact the reduction in positions would create. Activities affected: Act2010 and ACT2200. 15. Adjustments for reimbursement and flow through appropriations ($2,018,527)
Due to system constraints and timing, a number of appropriations were included in the 10-percent target calculation which do not produce savings when cut. In order to meet the 10-percent goal, a 10-percent share of each of those appropriations is included here along with the disclosure that they are not suitable for producing savings that can help offset a state general revenue shortfall. Reimbursement Spending – The agency maintains a significant number of non-Federal contracts where we receive direct reimbursement for the costs we incur. These appropriations would generate no savings if cut because the contractors will not pay us for work not done. This includes: $1,495,855 - 10 percent of reimbursement contracts, and $58,500 – 10 percent of state share of FEMA-reimbursed hurricane recovery costs (category 109845). Flow-through Authority – In order to make more land available for public hunting, the agency collects fees, in behalf of private landowners, from hunters who wish to hunt those lands and forwards those fees to the landowners. Spending authority is available in special category 107010 for this sole purpose and would produce no savings if cut. This appropriation was included in the target calculation. Ten percent of this authority is $63,837. In addition, the agency maintains a contract with a license sales service vendor to sell hunting and fishing licenses. A per license fee is collected from license purchasers and directed to the agency to specifically cover this license issuance cost. This contract was included in the target calculation; however, cutting it would not produce savings. The vendor’s action of selling the license produces the fee used to pay his contract. Ten percent of current fee receipts is $162,833. Unfunded Authority - The Legislature provides $2,375,128 advance spending authority in special category 103889 to be used in the event the agency receives interim land management transfers from DEP to manage newly acquired lands in the first year. Actual receipts vary significantly from year to year, so the appropriation is only released as needed. A cut in this appropriation would generate no savings because its use is contingent on unknown future receipts. This appropriation was included in the target calculation. Ten percent is $237,513. Return to top
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