DNR wasting our money!!

[Avid Angler]

How many of you heard on the news that the DNR has wasted so much of our tax dollars for high priced hotels and employee parties. The DNR doesn't need to go spending our tax money on excessive events and meals. Then they have the gall to raise our license fees every year til the average Joe can't afford to buy one then lower the limits, so that when we do get out fishing , we can't even keep enough to feed the family. Don't get me wrong I know they do a lot of beneficial things for our lakes and land, but when they waste our money on stupid things. It makes me very angry. Sure have your employee get- togethers, but don't do it at the most expensive places you can find. Just because it is free money from the government! I had to vent on this issue! It really bothered me!

Avid

[redhooks]

Hey Avid Angler- I hear what your sayin' and am upset as well. I think the DNR should hold thier meetings in some of the state parks that are going to be closed this summer!

[John19]

Out of curiosity, what is the price of a fishing license in Minnesota? In state & out of state.

[Chris Haley]

$17 resident $34 nonresident

[sorenson]

$17/34 - Sounds like a pretty good deal to me...
In golf terms that would be the equivalent of paying green fees ONCE, yet allowing you to golf EVERY course in the state, EVERY day of the year. I can usually find lots of things to gripe about, but the cost of a license isn't one of them.

[Steve Foss]

And paying greens fees only allows you to have fun. Paying the fishing license fee allows you to have fun AND eat the results of your fun -- over and over again for a whole year.

But people who spend our tax dollars had darn well better spend them wisely. We don't pay taxes so state workers can have parties on our dime. It happens all the time. Partly, it's our own fault. Elected officials (and to some extent the state workers they administer) will do what we insist they do, or they won't get re-elected, but we MUST insist, or we have only ourselves to blame.

For those who would complain (and I'm on your side, feeling as you do on this issue), ask yourselves this: When was the last time I called or e-mailed my state representatives/senators so they know how strongly I feel about these issues?

[Guest]

The money the DNR wastes,is minute compared to the amount money that the Fed govt waste.

I figured out today how much I spent on licences last year, close to $250.
I will admit it was a lot of fun for the money. I have spent more and got less for my money before.

I heard somewhere thta the DNR is making some BIG cuts this year. Anybody heard the same??

[fubar]

I would think the people who do not fish & hunt (if there are any :-) in this great state would be the most upset, for they are being taxed just the same. If they are going to use state tax money for a party, I better get an invitation.

[Surface Tension]

Is this the same DNR that had to be ordered by to stock our waters with walleyes.

[upnorth]

I tend to think that this type of thing is more common than we think and I do believe that it happens in all branches of government.

No one stays in the little roadside places when they are out of town for meetings or what not. It is always the big places with the pool and the jacuzzi. If your employer was paying the bill where would you stay? And be honest.

And as for the parties my guess is that it is always easier to spend someone elses bucks on that type of thing than it is your own.

[This message has been edited by upnorth (edited 03-01-2003).]

[united jigsticker]

As long as there is a fee to pay there will be money spent that we see as wasted.

Since they have to wait for the courts to decide whether or not they can check our houses, livewells, etc they have to spend the money they would have used to do checks on something.

Why not beer and parties?

I am not serious, I am just trying to lighten the mood here a tad.

It's all politics. There is never a real winner.

Fish On! Fish Off! ::Guzzle::

[loadmaster]

I know I spend alot of more money on lures and bait etc over the year But just bought the new Lic (Family combo, 1 shleter , two trout stamps,) LES fee $67.50 and I think its a good deal on one hand, but with the number of lic sold in this state maybe not>>later the load

[chunkytrout]

Yep, just spent my 26.50 + shelter and you know what? Sis and i went out and got a couple of trout and chowed. I could blow 26.50 at the bar no problem in one night.

[rmh2o]

It always amazes me that the same people that say there funds are so limited and dont have money for more cos are the same people **ssing away hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars

[Dave]

While I don't agree with "wasting" taxpayer money, or the monies we pay in license fees for recreation, etc., I'd like to add to this conversation.
I'm sure many of you work for employers who give a party now and then. From construction companies to executive offices, most get some party perks from their jobs. DON'T jump on me for this but if you look around you'll find it to be true. Sure, I was ticked off a bit when I read the report. As someone stated, it's politics. If the DNR has some offsite meetings WHEN NEEDED, that's cool with me. I'm sure they will watch what they spend more closely now.
And, we're probably not hearing the complete story, anyway. After all, it was "news" in the paper.

[Steve Foss]

It's not that people on the government (our tax dollars) payroll shouldn't have a party now and then. But they shouldn't pay for it with our money. It's not government's money, it's ours. We give it to the government so it can serve us, and any the government doesn't use should be returned (yeah, THAT's going to happen).

There is a difference between a private company party and a government party. If a business owner throws a party, is he using his employees money to do it? No, it's basically a thank-you celebration to his employees, funded out of the business' own pockets.

And yes, I think it's important we celebrate our successes, and parties are a fun way to do that, but if the DNR, for example, throws a similar party for its employees, they should ask if the people who give them their money (us) think it's OK for them to spend our money that way.

Career state government jobs in Minnesota pay pretty well. If a government office wants to throw a party, pass the hat and everyone throw in $25. Also, there are other ways that don't cost money to praise the successful.

Maybe I'm going a bit overboard here. I don't know. But government work is about service to citizens, not about taking their money for your beer.

[Dave]

I see your point, too. Private companies throwing parties with stock holders money would probably get some notice from ceertain stockholders as well.
I was thinking more along the lines of the offsite DNR meetings at resorts and stuff. They may have actually achieved some work goal? May have been a good reason to have it offsite? I don't know if those things were spelled out in the stories.

No matter who you ask, we'll get so many opinions on this subject. Sure, nobody wants someone else spending "our/your" money the way they want. No, I'm not saying it's right and it should be watched more closely but, I'm finding many more important things to worry about in life is all.
If you think the extravigant spending is going to stop ,competely, anybody can find a more creative way to "explain" how they spent the loot. But, yes, the spending should be watched more closely.

And, you're completely correct, everyone should call or write their State Reps to let them know how you feel about particular issues. I know it does help.

[This message has been edited by Dave (edited 03-03-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Dave (edited 03-03-2003).]