KeithH
Active member
NC is getting geared up for a land use controversy. The state cut the NCWRC's budget by about a third this coming year. In the next 5 years, they want the NCWRC to be a self sufficient branch of government. Cut a third of the operating budget from any branch of government and see what happens. The initial thought is to make all users of NCWRC Game Lands purchase a Game Lands Use License. Hunters and fishermen all have to buy them if they hunt on GLs...but for some reason the back packers, horseback riders, mountain bikers, photographers, bird watchers, kayakers, canoers, etc. feel this is a tax that only hunters and fishermen should pay. They pay their state income taxes as well as the hunters and fishermen...the land is state owned land...so their income tax dollars should allow them to access and use that land as they see fit.
Well I quickly chimed in and reminded them that hunters and fishermen were the ones that bought all of that land and they are the ones footing the bills to maintain that land....they buy separate licenses to hunt and fish...and have to buy a 'use' license to do what they see fit to do on that land...WHEN they are allowed to do it. They bought the land through their license fees...not through the operating budget tax dollars paid for. The operating budget pays for the administration end of the government...not the game lands. SO if others want to use the lands that were purchased by hunters and fishermen through license fees...guess what...they better buy their own use license.
An example I gave them was the Department of Transportation and our roads and highway system. Specific tax dollars pay for all our roads...through specific taxes on fuel, tires, etc. Yes we pay income taxes...but that money goes to administration costs of running that branch of government. What would happen if all of the sudden the state told DOT that a third of their operating budget was getting cut and within 5 years they would no longer be getting any tax dollars from the state...we would see DOT turn all of our highways into toll-ways...and since we all drive on them...there would be no complaining.
It is time that all users of game oriented and managed lands start paying for the use of those lands.
Well I quickly chimed in and reminded them that hunters and fishermen were the ones that bought all of that land and they are the ones footing the bills to maintain that land....they buy separate licenses to hunt and fish...and have to buy a 'use' license to do what they see fit to do on that land...WHEN they are allowed to do it. They bought the land through their license fees...not through the operating budget tax dollars paid for. The operating budget pays for the administration end of the government...not the game lands. SO if others want to use the lands that were purchased by hunters and fishermen through license fees...guess what...they better buy their own use license.
An example I gave them was the Department of Transportation and our roads and highway system. Specific tax dollars pay for all our roads...through specific taxes on fuel, tires, etc. Yes we pay income taxes...but that money goes to administration costs of running that branch of government. What would happen if all of the sudden the state told DOT that a third of their operating budget was getting cut and within 5 years they would no longer be getting any tax dollars from the state...we would see DOT turn all of our highways into toll-ways...and since we all drive on them...there would be no complaining.
It is time that all users of game oriented and managed lands start paying for the use of those lands.
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