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DNR requests $409 million for staff, conservation, dam repairs and a law‑enforcement pay boost
Summary
The Department of Natural Resources requested $409,363,740 across recurring and capital lines, including $130 million for land conservation (about 22,620 acres), $3 million to finish flood‑inundation mapping, a $3 million law‑enforcement pay package to raise starting pay by about 10%, and increased estimates for Lake Paul Wallace dam repairs.
Director Milligan and Shannon Boebert, chief of staff at the Department of Natural Resources, presented a comprehensive, multi‑year budget request totaling $409,363,740 to the legislative committee. The package combines recurring and non‑recurring asks spanning workforce retention, dam repairs, mapping, conservation land purchases and capital maintenance.
Key elements of the request included:
- A $130,000,000 capital ask to acquire about 22,620 acres across multiple counties (Aiken, Lancaster, Kershaw, Hampton, Florence, Marion, Georgetown, Barnwell, Clarendon, Pickens, Williamsburg and York) to protect habitat, cultural and historical areas and to leverage federal matching grants. Milligan emphasized conservation as a cost‑effective strategy to reduce future storm and flood damage.
- Funding to cover increased repair estimates on Lake Paul Wallace dam. Milligan said the prior estimate of $25,000,000 is now approximately $34,000,000 and that a contractor estimate is expected in March 2026 to finalize the amount.
- $3,000,000 nonrecurring to finish statewide flood inundation mapping that supports emergency management and evacuation planning; the department reported it has mapped roughly half the state to date.
- A $3,000,000 component to raise starting law‑enforcement pay (a 10% increase for law enforcement) to keep hiring competitive and reduce turnover, which Boebert said would move starting pay toward roughly $64,192.
- Other capital and operating priorities, including fish hatchery renovations, equipment replacement, and recurring support to transition mission‑critical positions from unstable federal or other funds to state recurring funds.
Committee members asked detailed questions about how conservation purchases would be coordinated with the Conservation Bank and which entities would lead acquisitions. Milligan and staff said DNR prefers direct purchases when feasible because direct state funding can maximize federal grants; they also said nonprofit partners and the Conservation Bank can bridge timing gaps. The committee did not take votes; staff and legislators agreed to hold follow‑up meetings to coordinate funding and property selection.
