MDC income

[gonefishin]

I don't know how much they have actually purchased but I do know, at least according to their own magazine, there has been a lot donated to them.

Finally let me say again. I do not begrudge the MDC the tax I just think they have taken it too far and have became very greedy. I don't see how they can justify license fee increases and limit reductions when the public had just given them a big raise. Why did they feel they had to slap the public in the face for giving them a big influx of cash, was it an insult to them or something? Just seems strange to me but that is JMO.

[Thom]

The bottom line.

I have fished and traveled in most of the USA at one time or another. There are very few States that offer as much as Missouri for free.

Most states charge to even go into the state parks and to park on their grounds and cross bridges. The facilities are not as well kept and very seldom upgraded. The license fees are much higher.

Go on the net and check it out.

There may be some waste and abuse but We have it pretty good here in Missouri.

I have been personally involved with a few of the State managers with issues that I have pursued in terms of enforcement. I have nothing but high regard for their professionalism and timely responses that I received.

One such case involved a State manager that was on vacation at Bennet fishing and handled a complaint on the spot. He later sent me a letter of the outcome of the action taken against the violater.

[gonefishin]

The bottom line.

I have fished and traveled in most of the USA at one time or another. There are very few States that offer as much as Missouri for free.

Most states charge to even go into the state parks and to park on their grounds and cross bridges. The facilities are not as well kept and very seldom upgraded. The license fees are much higher.

Go on the net and check it out.

There may be some waste and abuse but We have it pretty good here in Missouri.

I have been personally involved with a few of the State managers with issues that I have pursued in terms of enforcement. I have nothing but high regard for their professionalism and timely responses that I received.

One such case involved a State manager that was on vacation at Bennet fishing and handled a complaint on the spot. He later sent me a letter of the outcome of the action taken against the violater.

Thom: You are right we do have it pretty good here in MO but just because we have it good is not a reason to turn a blind eye to abuse. I am just questioning what is happening with what is a really big chunk of money. As a tax payer it is not only my right it is my civic duty to do so. I do not deny we have it pretty good I just think for the bucks we spend we could have it a lot better. I may be wrong but I am sure most states would be more than happy to trade their license fees for the money a 1/8th cent sales tax would generate.

[Crippled Caddis]

gf wrote:

< As a tax payer it is not only my right it is my civic duty to do so.>

If more people understood that statement and acted on it we wouldn't all be scratching our heads and asking "What went wrong with my country"?

[Thom]

We need to all be proactive in holding our government and its agencies to getting our best bang for the bucks. If we don't questions what we think is wrong it may be interpreted that we agree with the actions or inactions.

After all if we don't voice our opinions to those who are in charge we deserve what we get.

I make it a practice however to voice my opinion when I see a job well done as well when the ball is dropped.

I appreciate and respect your opinions and those of others (even if I disagree) who comment here and find most comments interesting, provocative and helpful.

CC:

100% right. I was typing a comment while you posted the last one and as usual your insight is appreciated.

[jcoberley]

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northame..._milestones.pdf

2004 The Conservancy announces a goal to conserve

places that represent at least 10 percent of every

major habitat type on Earth by 2015.

HUmmmmm

2006 The Missouri program completes its first land

acquisition in the Cerrado, the world’s most

biologically rich savanna, located in Brazil. This

transaction forges a critical partnership with a private

foundation in Brazil and opens the door for

future conservation of this important ecosystem.

DID I read that right "Brazil" Know we know part of it! "political system at work" JMO

Before the 1/8 tax Kerr-McGee Corporation

1991 - The Conservancy launches its Last Great Places

initiative, a multinational effort to protect largescale

ecosystems by making people part of the solution.

The Missouri program purchases 80,819 acres

of upland timber tracts in the heart of the Missouri

Ozarks from the Kerr-McGee Corporation, retaining

areas of high biological diversity.

JMO

[jdmidwest]

The Conservancy and MDC are 2 separate things I believe. The Conservancy is similar to the Sierra Club.

[Gavin]

There seems to be a lot of animosity towards MDC because they have a lot of money...They do.

They have the third highest budget of any conservation department in the nation, but spending per state resident is heads and tails above any department in the country..

Do they have to much money? I dont think so..

Do they always spend it well? For the most part, yes, sometimes no..

Do I want there funding to go away? No

Sometimes I wish that they were a little bit more accounatable and responsive to my own interests, but for the we are pretty spoiled here in MO...Go to any other state in the country and see what kind of services, fishing access, and public lands that are available to you from the state "conservation" department. You wont find much.

[gonefishin]

Gavin:

I agree with you in that I don't want MDC to go away. I am not mad at anyone. As I said I am just questioning what is happening to a LOT of tax payers money.

One question I keep coming back to is the amount of money they have drawing interest. Did tax payers give them the special sales tax so it could be banked or did they give it to them to provide more services? If they gave it to them to put into savings I want to know why. If they gave it to them for more services I would like to know where these services are.

Why do they feel it necessary to raise fees when they have so much money that they are putting it into savings?

Why don't they have more handicapped access points?

Why don't they give the less fortunate a break?

Why do they act broke when they are in fact extremely well funded?

I don't believe their books, I think they are cooked but, even so why is only 6% of the budget alloted for fishing? Why is only 7% alloted for hunting? Why is 20% alloted for Management?

[jcoberley]

The Conservancy and MDC are 2 separate things I believe. The Conservancy is similar to the Sierra Club.

JD Your the one who said that MDC had bought ground from Kerr-McGee Corporation So based on that I assumed that you know what you were talking about. So Did they buy any ground or not! Know one knows do they! Its easy to give or claim credit.

So I am finding out that we have MDC and DNR, and the Conservancy? Just how many agances do we need for a few fish and game. I have been told that DNR takes care of our camp grounds, water and Air. So I would only guess that MDC is in charge of just fish and game. And that leaves the Conservancy I would guess property. AM I correct?????