Lawmakers again criticize Wildlife Division

Wednesday, June 26, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state Wildlife Division, a favorite whipping boy, has received another dressing down for overspending part of its budget by nearly $200,000.

"Your department represents a bad example of government," Assemblyman Jack Close, R-Las Vegas, told Wildlife Administrator Willie Molini on Tuesday. "I can understand mistakes and understand different problems that might come forth."

But Close said Molini should tighten the controls in his agency to know when it is headed for financial problems.

Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, said he has "taken excessive heat" from sportsmen who are complaining about the Wildlife Division. Rawson said he had been one of Molini's strong supporters, but he told him, "You have got to get it under control."

Despite the criticism, the Legislative Interim Finance Committee agreed to Molini's request to transfer $198,000 out of the salary category in his budget into operating. He needs the extra money for repair of a helicopter, water assessments, printing and to meet rising gasoline prices.

The Wildlife Division has run into financial problems in the past and has been the target of harsh criticism of lawmakers and some sportsmen.

At the 1995 Legislature, Molini and division officials lobbied for an increase in hunting and fishing fees to have money to give pay raises to employees.

"Now he transfers from salaries to operation so they didn't need the $1 million the sportsmen were taxed," said Gerald Lent, president of the Nevada Hunters Association, a frequent critic of Molini. "There's been no chief of big game for two years and that program has suffered."

Lent suggested the 1997 Legislature reduce fishing and hunting fees.

Molini argued he was not before the committee "to bail us out dollar wise." He said he has enough money in his overall budget and just needs to shift the funds around.

"The things we have done with those dollars ... maybe some sportsmen will disagree ... but the majority would agree. It's been to their benefit. We have let them know some of the programs ... we have continued the survey of wildlife," Molini said. "I think we are spending the money correctly."

But Assemblyman Morse Arberry, chairman of the Finance Committee, reminded that there were 14 recommendations made in the past to prevent the Wildlife Division from running into financial problems again. "It's like the 14 recommendations never existed," Arberry said.

He said every agency has the same responsibilities. "We love you guys but we're going to have to fall out of love if you continue."

Peter Morros, director of the state Department of Conservational and Natural Resources, which oversees Wildlife, said he was "not happy with the situation. We have got to do a better job in identifying increased costs early."

Morros agreed with Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, who said the rising price of gasoline was known soon enough to take steps to cut back travel.

"There should have been strong controls to shut down the activities in the field," Morros said.

He promised he would keep a closer watch on the spending of the agency, and he promised to submit monthly budget reports to the committee so lawmakers could monitor its progress.

Assembly Co-Speaker Joe Dini, D-Yerington, said Morros has been doing a good job in trying to watch the Wildlife Division but the lawmakers need more information as the 1997 Legislature nears.

"We ought to get a better handle on them if they send us a monthly report," Dini said. He told Molini to get out in the field and talk to his managers. "The guy in the field knew gasoline went up 20 cents a gallon. He should have known he had to curtail his expenses."

The state Department of Taxation also received approval to switch $34,000 from its in-state travel budget to operating to take care increased cost of mail and other items. Department Director Michael Pitlock said the economy is growing faster than anybody expected and the money is needed to handle the increased workload.

Arberry told Pitlock his agency should be setting the example, but Pitlock said the department has little control over the problem.