DCR Retained Revenue Account needs examination, explanation
By Doug Pizzi | January 10, 2021
If you have been following the MCV blog and our work, you know we are concerned that the state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) annual budget relies too heavily on fees. It is not too much to expect that when our tax dollars buy park and forest land that we have affordable access to that land. However, in an ongoing attempt to recover from massive budget cuts going back to the 2008 recession, DCR has been pressured to increase fees, which go into the Retained Revenue Account (Line Item 2810-2042), to meet its budgetary needs.
Until this fiscal year, the Legislature and Governor have consistently pushed DCR to raise more and more revenue to supplement tax dollars to run its day-to-day operation. This has included increasing fees where they already existed and instituting new fees where they had not existed. The Governor’s pre-pandemic FY21 budget called on DCR to raise $25.8 million for the Retained Revenue Account, an increase of $10 million more than FY16.
This wildly exceeds the rate of inflation and can have the effect of encouraging DCR to focus on generating revenue at the expense of its primary mission, providing safe, healthful, affordable recreational experiences. The final FY21 budget asks DCR to raise a more reasonable $21.3 million. While this is still an increase over the $18.9 million the agency actually raised in FY20, it is not onerously so.
That said, we remain grateful for increased state tax revenue funding for parks and recreation operations, sometimes with the Governor’s cooperation, sometimes over his veto. Since FY19, the Parks and Recreation Account (line item 2810-0100) has increased by about $11.0 million, to this year’s level of $51.4 million. We want to see that progress continue with less emphasis on fees to fund DCR regular operations.
How we fund our state parks, forests, playgrounds, beaches, and pools – all of the resources under the care of DCR – is a worthy public policy question. And now the DCR Stewardship Council has joined that discussion. On Thursday, January 14th, at 9:00 AM, the Council will meet with DCR finance staff to discuss their retained revenue budget. If you are able to, we urge you to join the meeting via Zoom (connection details are copied below).
Understanding how retained revenue is earned and spent is at the top of the list to improve our public resources and enhance DCR’s ability to do its job – offering safe, affordable, and accessible public lands for all.
Because of the Stewardship Council’s public meeting rules, comments and questions on this issue are not allowed until the February meeting. If work or family responsibilities keep you from attending the February meeting, MCV will bring your comment or question before the Council in February. Simply forward an email to me at doug@massconservationvoters.com.
If you can sit in for January’s meeting, please do so. Further information and a link to the meeting is below. The quality of our parks and our ability to affordably enjoy them is at stake. The park you save may be your own.
Doug Pizzi is the Executive Director of Massachusetts Conservation Voters
DCR Stewardship Council Meeting
January 14, 2021 – online meeting beginning at 9 a.m.
DCR Stewardship Council Meeting Agenda 1/14/2021
Zoom Meeting ID: 834 5403 8777
Password: 976809
Internet access link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83454038777?pwd=R1lEc2JKUUJBMGhUam1Bazd4WkxBZz09
Telephone access details: (646) 558-8656; 83454038777#
Please contact Lisa Barstow at lisa.barstow@mass.gov for access support.