IFG director wants fee increases

BOISE (AP) — Idaho’s Department of Fish and Game director Tuesday continued to push for a plan to raise hunting and fishing fees, despite a panel voting to hold the bill last week.

Virgil Moore told budget-setting lawmakers that money from hunting and fishing licenses is the key to his agency’s budget. He says funding hasn’t kept up despite strong fishing and hunting seasons.

As part of the program, a person can lock in the current price by buying a license each subsequent year. Moore says that he expects to raise $1.6 million to $2.4 million from the plan.

The bill stalled in the House Resources and Conservation Committee last Thursday.

The agency’s budget proposal for the 2016 fiscal year is $95.8 million and includes no increase in funding.