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Wildlife and Fisheries faces conservation‑fund collapse; agency seeks general funds while cutting federal grant authority
Summary
The Senate Committee on Finance heard the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' FY26 budget presentation and a briefing on a depleted conservation fund and falling royalty revenues on May 21.
The Senate Committee on Finance received the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries's FY26 budget overview and an agency briefing on revenue shortfalls and program adjustments on May 21. Mark Borns of Senate Fiscal Services presented funding trends; Acting Secretary Tyler Bosworth and Undersecretary Bridal Buckland answered legislators' questions.
Borns told the committee the department's FY26 recommended total is roughly $199.4 million with 786 TO positions. He said statutory dedications provide about 39% of the department's financing and federal funds about 25%. Borns warned the conservation fund 'is experiencing a revenue shortfall': "Within the last 10 years, royalties on land have decreased by 77.7%. Mineral revenue decreased by 51% over the past 10 years." He said the…
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