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Murray County commissioners back letter opposing proposed cuts to AIS prevention aid
Summary
The board voted to sign a letter asking state leaders to maintain Aquatic Invasive Species prevention-aid funding after staff said a governor proposal would cut the county’s $97,000 annual allotment by about half.
The Murray County Board of Commissioners voted Feb. 4 to sign a letter urging state officials to maintain current funding levels for the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention Aid.
County Administrator Carolyn McDonald told the board that Jean Christoffels would present potential funding changes and that the governor has proposed a roughly 50% reduction in AIS prevention-aid for counties. Staff said Murray County currently receives about $97,000 a year; the proposed cut would reduce that funding by about half.
Commissioner Jackie Meier moved to support preventing cuts to the AIS program; Commissioner Loy Woelber seconded the motion and it passed. The board’s action adds Murray County as a signatory to a request from Wildlife Forever asking counties to oppose the proposed reduction.
The change would affect local AIS prevention activities funded by the aid. The commissioners did not set conditions on the letter and did not specify additional county budget offsets at the meeting. Next steps described by staff included adding the county’s signature to the coordinated letter and monitoring legislative developments during the session.
