TWRA warns wildlife fund could be depleted by FY2030; seeks recurring revenue fixes
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Summary
At a Feb. 24 budget hearing TWRA Director Jason Maxidon told the Finance Committee that licensing revenue and federal reimbursements are no longer keeping pace with costs and urged lawmakers to consider recurring appropriations or dedicated revenue allocations to avert a projected FY2030 depletion.
Director Jason Maxidon and TWRA staff told the Finance, Ways and Means Committee that the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency faces a structural funding gap unless the state provides recurring support or a dedicated revenue stream.
Maxidon outlined the agency’s scope — roughly 750 employees, management of more than 1.6 million acres (about 600,000 acres under state ownership), 1,200 boat access areas and 21 shooting ranges — and described recent revenue drivers and pressures. He said license sales generate about $40 million annually on roughly 968,233 licenses, federal reimbursements (Pittman‑Robertson and similar programs) are a substantial share, and the wetlands acquisition fund contributes about $23 million a year via the real‑estate transfer tax.
He warned that, absent corrective action, “the wildlife fund will be depleted by FY30” and argued that a recurring appropriation of about $18.5 million or a legislative redirection of designated revenues would stabilize the agency. Maxidon described two legislative options before the General Assembly this year: a bill (House Bill 2138 as stated in testimony) that would dedicate 10% of TVA PILT receipts to the wildlife fund, and another sponsor bill intended to redirect a portion of sales taxes on outdoor products toward agency funding (the transcript referenced a fiscal note estimate).
TWRA requested $10 million in one‑time general fund money for deferred maintenance and capital projects (fish hatcheries, facility repairs and a plateau bridge project), and explained the agency has used portions of the wetlands acquisition fund to pay for law enforcement operations this cycle (~$16M), reducing the amount available for new land purchases. The agency told the committee it will largely halt acquisitions unless a key property is essential and highlighted that roughly $16M of wetlands fund spending on operations this cycle will leave limited acquisition capacity going forward.
Licensing, program and policy questions dominated questioning. Members discussed the recently adopted lifetime license sales and their short‑term boost to revenue, the National Guard sportsman license proposal to reimburse the agency for guard members’ licenses, and potential new fees (such as commercial paddlecraft/operator fees) that could be levied to generate operating revenue. TWRA said it would pursue revenue opportunities that do not undercut private sector lodging and that any new commercial access fees should be designed to avoid direct competition with private businesses.
Ending: TWRA urged legislative action on a recurring revenue fix or statutory redirection; lawmakers acknowledged the urgency and asked staff and sponsors to continue work on bills and reporting language to track outcomes.