PROPOSAL 06-1
A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO REQUIRE THAT MONEY HELD IN CONSERVATION AND RECREATION FUNDS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSES

The proposed constitutional amendment would:

• Create a Conservation and Recreation Legacy Fund within the Constitution and establish existing conservation and recreation accounts as components of the fund.
• Use current funding sources such as state park entrance and camping fees; snowmobile, ORV and boating registration fees; hunting and fishing license fees; taxes and other revenues to fund accounts.
• Establish the current Game and Fish Protection Fund and the Nongame Fish and Wildlife Fund within the Constitution.
• Provide that money held in Funds can only be used for specific purposes related to conservation and recreation and cannot be used for any purpose other than those intended.

Should this proposal be adopted?

The Detroit Free Press says :

It would protect forever the license and user fees people pay for activities such as fishing, hunting, camping and snowmobiling to make sure the money is used only for recreation and conservation.

The measure would convert 13 existing accounts under the Department of Natural Resources into three constitutionally protected, raid-proof funds. In his last term, Gov. John Engler's administration took $7.8 million from the Waterways Fund to balance the state budget. The proposal is to prevent that from happening again.

As a camper, I know that one of my favorite state campgrounds has doubled their camping fee - this year.  And that the money I pay for camping and entrance fees are being used elsewhere.

Also, a few years ago one of our governers raided the school employee's pension fund and ended his term with a balanced budget...this should not happen.

If funds are supposed to be protected, they should be protected.  I think I'll vote yes on this one.