Game, Fish and Parks outlines budget cuts, fee increases and early bond payoff under Senate Bill 56

Kevin Robling, secretary of the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, told the Joint Committee on Appropriations on Monday that the department is recommending a roughly $1.3 million reduction in ongoing general funds for fiscal year 2026 and a package of fee increases to cover other costs.

Robling said the department’s recommended cuts include a $500,000 reduction in seasonal-employee general-fund support and a $793,655 adjustment tied to the final payments on the Blue Dog fish hatchery bond. He said Senate Bill 56 would appropriate a one-time general fund payment that allows the department to pay the hatchery bond early; the department plans to return an equal amount from license dollars so the net general-fund impact is zero.

Why it matters: The changes affect park operations, wildlife services and staff budgets statewide and shift more of the agency’s operating costs to user fees and license revenue. Game, Fish and Parks (GF&P) receives the large majority of its operating dollars from licenses, federal excise taxes (Pittman–Robertson and Dingell–Johnson) and other special funds; Robling said only two GF&P line items currently receive general funds.

Budget and bond details: Robling said the department’s base budget totals remain essentially…