LANSING — State Senator Joseph Bellino — who represents Michigan’s 16th Senate District covering most of Monroe, Lenawee and Hillsdale counties — voted this week against a plan to raise hunting and fishing license fees.
The two bills would raise fees on 20 different licenses by a total of $29.4 million.
In a press release, Senator Belliono said, “These fee increases are unnecessary, counterproductive and harmful. The number of hunters in Michigan is declining. We should be encouraging more people to hunt and fish in our state — not making it more expensive for Michigan families.”
Bellino said the proposed fee hikes are between 20% and 50%. That includes a 33% increase to a combo license, a 50% increase to a base hunting license, and a 20% increase to a yearly all-species fishing license.
Bellino said the Department of Natural Resources should use its current funding better or work to increase participation instead of raising costs.