June 4, 2015: Budget cuts to WI Dept of Natural Resources

This Thursday, June 4th at 10 am, Wisconsin Public Radio’s Route 51 looks at the impact of upcoming cuts to DNR staffing on wildlife research and northern Wisconsin’s natural resources.

Last week, the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee approved eliminating 18 of 58 positions in the Bureau of Science Services. The Committee reduced the scope of the state stewardship program, but did not freeze new land purchases as the Governor recommended. The Committee also voted to limit state and county rules on shoreline zoning.

Host Glen Moberg welcomes Senator Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) who has been a critic of DNR policies, and George Meyer, executive director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and former DNR Secretary, who has criticized the cuts.