Marine Patrol Funding Woes

[OCDACTIVE]

Originally Posted by Rusty

You don't know politics very well if you think that any surplus that a department has accrued for any given year won't be gobbled up and go into the "general fund".
Good luck with the "discussion of adding back the initial clause as a floor amendment, however it has not yet been finalized." I don't think it stands a chance of passing but it won't hurt to give it a try.

That is the issue. The so called "surplus" was set aside for a new boat and for summer help. The late director Barrett was an extremely bright individual who was able to predict what his budget would be the following year based on the trend of decreased boating registrations. He shrunk his department and set aside the funds so not to run a negative when the new resources were purchased / hired. However, they passed a law allowing all dedicated funds to be raided with the promise that it would be both "returned' (yeah right!) and the law reversed.

Of course this did not happen and even less of a chance now with the new legislative synergy in Concord.

I agree this will be an uphill battle for the amendment however we need everyone to call their Senators and asked to support this effort.

Complaining on a forum will get us no where. As boaters we need to stand up and tell them what is right.