Funding

Game and Fish Protection Fund

License Fees

The biggest state revenue source for the DNR's ongoing budget is the Game and Fish Protection account. The primary source of revenue for the fund is hunting and fishing license fees. The fund supports statewide hunting and fishing programs and the enforcement of hunting and fishing laws.

Game and Fish Protection Trust Fund

The Game and Fish Protection Fund also receives money from the Game and Fish Protection Trust Fund, which collects royalties from oil, gas, and mineral extraction or timber sales on Game and Fish-acquired lands.  The Game and Fish Protection Fund receives $6 million annually, plus whatever interest and earnings the Game and Fish Protection Trust Fund generates in a year. 

Forest Development Fund

Timber Sales

Proceeds from the sale of timber on state forest land help to fund the Forest Resources Division's management of Michigan’s state forests. This includes foresters, compartment reviews, wildfire protection, and more.

Park Endowment Fund

Oil, Gas and Minerals Revenue

The Park Endowment Fund collects the bulk of royalties from oil, gas, and mineral extraction on public land. Until the accumulated principal balance of the fund reaches $800 million, not more than 50 percent of the annual royalty revenue received can be appropriated for expenditure. However, the Legislature may appropriate all interest and earnings and private contributions or other revenue to the fund. Amounts available for expenditure can be used for operations, maintenance, and capital improvements at state parks and for the acquisition of land or rights in land for state parks.

Waterways Fund

The Waterways Fund is used for the construction, operation, and maintenance of recreational boating facilities; the acquisition of property for recreational boating facilities; and grants to local units of government and state colleges and universities to acquire and develop harbors of refuge and public boating access sites.

Watercraft Registration Fees and Gas Tax

The fund receives 51% of the revenue generated from watercraft registration fees. It also receives the majority of the state gasoline tax revenue that is deposited into the Recreation Improvement Account. The Recreation Improvement Account receives 2% of state-imposed taxes on the sale of gasoline after deducting collection costs and refunds. The Waterways Fund receives 80% of the 2% distribution, the Snowmobile Trail Improvement Fund receives 14%, and the remaining balance is retained for recreational projects and administration of the account.

Recreation Passport Fees

The Waterways Fund also receives Recreation Passport revenue to replace revenue that was lost with the elimination of state boating access site permits.

Park Improvement Fund

Camping Fees and Recreation Passport Fees

The Park Improvement Fund is used for the operation, maintenance, and improvement of state parks and recreation areas. The fund receives state park revenue from camping fees, Recreation Passport fees, non-resident motor vehicle permit fees, concession fees, leases, donations, gifts, and other sources.

Fish & Wildlife Service Fish Restoration - Dingell-Johnson Act

Sales of Fishing Equipment and Boats

The Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act is a law passed in 1950 that collects taxes on fishing equipment. Revenue from a 10% tax on fishing equipment; 3% tax on electric motors; import duties on tackle, pleasure boats, and yachts; motorboat and small engine fuel taxes; and interest is collected and appropriated from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. The apportionment each state receives is based on the land area of the state (including inland and coastal water area) and the number of paid licensed anglers in the state. The revenue flows through a couple different funds:

Fish and Wildlife Service Fish Restoration Fund - Funds may be used for restoring and managing fish species with material value for sport and recreation purposes and providing aquatic education to the public.

Fish and Wildlife Service Motorboat Access Fund - Funds may be used for providing public access for recreational boating.

Fish & Wildlife Service Wildlife Restoration And Hunter Education - Pittman-Robertson Act

Sales of Firearms and Ammunition

The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act is a law passed in 1937 that collects an excise tax on firearms and ammunition and provides federal aid to states for management and restoration of wildlife. Revenue from an 11% tax on firearms, ammo, bows, quivers, and broad heads; 10% tax on pistols, handguns, and revolvers; and $.43 tax per arrow shaft is collected and appropriated from the Wildlife Restoration Account. The money is split into a few different programs:

Wildlife Restoration Program - Funding is available to the states through formula grants from the Wildlife Restoration Account. The amount of money each state receives is based on the land area of the state (including inland waters) and the number of unique paid licensed hunters in the state. Some of the activities include the acquisition and improvement of wildlife habitat, introduction of wildlife into suitable habitat, wildlife management research, wildlife population surveys and inventories, and acquisition and development of facilities for public access to wildlife resources.

Basic Hunter Education Program - Funding is available to the states through formula grants from the Wildlife Restoration Account. The amount of money each state receives is based on its population. Funding received is to be used for hunter education and the management and development of shooting ranges.

Enhanced Hunter Education and Safety Program - Funding is available to the states through formula grants from the Wildlife Restoration Account. The amount of money each state receives is based on its population. Funding received is to be used for enhancement of hunter and archery education programs and enhancement or construction of firearm shooting ranges and archery ranges.

State General Fund/General Purpose revenue is primarily generated from personal income, corporate income, insurance, sales, and use taxes. Unlike state restricted revenue, there are no constitutional or statutory restrictions concerning how this revenue may be used. Any funds remaining at the end of a fiscal year lapse back to the General Fund. The DNR receives General Fund appropriations for a variety of purposes, including law enforcement, invasive species prevention and control, wildfire protection and wildlife disease. 

Grant and reimbursement revenue can be received from a variety of private sources (e.g. Detroit Edison; Upper Peninsula Power Company; Kellogg Foundation; various wildlife protection, hunting, and resource advocacy groups; etc.). Gift revenue is also received from the donations of industry and individuals for specific programs or purposes.  

The DNR is charged with the conservation of more than 400 species of animals – the birds and mammals that sustain Michigan’s hunting heritage, as well as nongame wildlife, including threatened and endangered species.

In addition to making science-based decisions concerning hunting regulations, habitat management, public hunting access, and protection of threatened and endangered species, the DNR’s Wildlife Division also co-manages the state forests with the DNR’s Forest Resources Division and is responsible for the state’s game and wildlife management areas.

Wildlife spending is largely supported by hunting license revenue and federal Pittman-Robertson funding. The DNR also receives General Fund revenue to combat wildlife disease.    

The DNR’s Law Enforcement Division is home to Michigan’s conservation officers. Conservation officers protect Michigan’s natural resources and environment and the health, safety, and enjoyment of the public through effective law enforcement and education. They, along with other support staff, handle an array of other responsibilities, including education, recreational safety, and public outreach.

The DNR’s Law Enforcement Division also provides investigative and enforcement services and coordinates emergency management and homeland security responsibilities for the department.

Law enforcement spending is supported with federal funding, as well as funding from a variety of state-restricted revenue sources. The single biggest revenue source is Game & Fish Protection funding (revenue from hunting and fishing license fees). The DNR also receives General Fund revenue to support conservation officers, who are often the only law enforcement available to respond to emergency situations in rural communities.

The DNR provides over $40 million in grants through a variety of different programs. Examples include grants for invasive species prevention and control; motorized and non-motorized trail improvements; acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas; fish and wildlife habitat improvement; and assistance to county sheriffs for boating, ORV and snowmobile law enforcement.

The DNR budget includes funding for the maintenance, repair, and improvement of critical infrastructure supporting the department’s programs. This includes annual investments to maintain and improve state park and recreation area facilities and state and local recreational boating facilities.

The DNR offers financial and technical assistance to local communities to improve and sustain their recreational boating facilities through a grant-in-aid program.

The capital outlay appropriations included in the DNR budget vary from year-to-year but can also include investments in state forest infrastructure, state game and wildlife area infrastructure, wetlands, fisheries infrastructure, and DNR customer service centers and field offices.

The DNR’s capital outlay investments are typically funded with a mix of state restricted revenues, federal revenues, and General Fund.

The DNR protects and manages Michigan’s aquatic resources, including fish populations, other aquatic life, and aquatic habitat, which are held in trust for Michigan’s citizens. The DNR’s Fisheries Division monitors and studies fish populations and other forms of aquatic life, striving to ensure their long-term protection while keeping fishing in Michigan among the nation’s best.

A variety of fish species are hatched and reared at the state’s fish hatcheries. These fish are annually stocked in designated public waters throughout the state to maintain or improve fish populations.

The activities of the DNR’s Fisheries Division are largely supported by revenue from fishing license fees and federal Dingell-Johnson funding. Revenue is also received from legal settlements with companies responsible for resource damages, such as power companies whose hydroelectric plants have caused fish kills.