PA Environment Digest

Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe Wednesday presented the agency’s annual report to the General Assembly, and delivered testimony before the House Game and Fisheries Committee.

"As you know, it has been now 13 years since a license increase. And, while the revenue we have received from leasing land within the Marcellus Shale has allowed the Commission to remain solvent, it is an inadequate substitute for a consistent, steady stream of revenue which could be generated through a license increase," said Roe in his opening remarks.

"To further complicate the problem, the more years that pass without a license increase, the greater the necessity that the next increase be substantial in size to make up for the years of lost revenue. This could be avoided through legislation which would allow the Commission the authority to set its own fees. Implementation of such a change would end the cycle we are currently in of long stretches without an increase followed by a sudden, significant increase. It would also allow the Commission to implement smaller more frequent changes which make adjustments for inflation and increased costs.

"License fees are not a tax but a user fee. The Marcellus Shale impact fee was approved and provided resources for those requirements for some of the agencies and local governments affected by the increased demand on resources. It is time to pass a license fee increase so our wildlife resources can benefit. The public will is there for a fee increase."

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