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RAC approves changes to expo permit rule, tightens audit and funding split for conservation draws
Summary
The council unanimously endorsed amendments to the expo ("expo permit") rule that increase administrative clarity, allow a modest per-permit fee range, cap contractor administration at 20 percent and formalize how remaining funds are split and audited.
The Northern Regional Advisory Council unanimously recommended amendments to the Division's expo-permit rule, which governs a special set of donor/conservation permits the division contracts to third-party organizations to administer. The changes clarify how proceeds are accounted for, increase the per-permit fee range to $5'$10 and specify a funding split and audit requirements for the money raised.
Division staff said the change responds to experience running the program. Under the proposed rule the contractor administering the permits may retain up to 20 percent of gross receipts to cover administrative costs; 10 percent of proceeds will return to the division for internal conservation work, and the remaining 70 percent will be split 35/35 between a cooperative-agreement fund and a contractor-managed conservation fund. All expenditures must be auditable and documented annually to the board.
Public commenters representing conservation groups described significant habitat investments funded by prior expo/conservation permit proceeds, including upland game and waterfowl habitat projects and species reintroductions. Several RAC members praised the rule changes as housekeeping that will increase transparency and keep funding flowing to habitat projects, though some said they were conflicted about using public tags for fundraising draws.
The RAC approved the rule amendments by unanimous roll-call vote and the division said it will include the new rule text in the upcoming solicitation for organizations that will run the next expo and permit draw.
