FWP outlines 0‑based parks budget and requests small-dollar increases, equipment and technician positions

At a hearing of the Montana Legislature's Natural Resources and Transportation Subcommittee, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks presented a 0‑based budget for its Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division and outlined four decision packages intended to cover operations, equipment and staff for the next biennium. The department described core programs — from block management and fishing access sites to trail grants, snowmobile grooming and heritage resources — and highlighted rising visitation and volunteer support.

The budget presentation matters because state parks and access programs are primarily funded outside the general fund and the division says demand and operating costs have increased: FWP reported about 3.2 million state park visitors annually, large volunteer contributions and multiple grant programs that leverage local matches. The department asked the committee to consider four decision packages to cover specific, near‑term needs while it continues long‑range planning under its OGSM (objectives, goals, strategies, measurables) annual plan.

Beth Shumate, assistant administrator of the Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division, told the committee the 0‑based budget was built from a “mission and task focused exercise” and asked legislators to refer to the handout materials for program tables and financial detail. “This division's work is interwoven into the tapestry of the Montana lifestyle,” Shumate said, listing state parks, fishing access sites, river recreation areas and trail programs as the division's central responsibilities.

FWP staff walked the committee through program highlights and current funding levels: the administrative unit oversees recreation grants and planning; the agency allocates roughly $4.5 million annually through competitive recreation grant programs; the trail stewardship program closed its 2025 application cycle with 61 applications requesting almost $4 million; the agency typically budgets about $2 million annually for trail stewardship grants; and the OHV…