Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund - Under Attack Again

based on information from Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance , and an editorial in Hometown Life

One of the stunning successes in Michigan has been the Natural Resources Trust Fund. Voters made it part of the state constitution that royalties from gas and oil revenues must be used to purchase recreational lands and improve those assets.

But in really lean years like this one that pot of money looks very fat and handy. Rep. Joel Sheltrown (D-West Branch) has introduced legislation bring a vote which would allow up to half of that money to go for development and management of game and sport fisheries, including stocking.

This is not what the voters of the state chose in 1976 when the fund was established, and it is not what they wanted in 2002 when it was once again placed on the ballot. People in Michigan want recreational land preserved with Trust Fund money. To change the provisions of the fund requires a change in the state constitution.

Each year, through the Trust Fund grant process, recreational opportunities are created, preserved and improved.

See Revisions to Natural Resources Trust Fund Rules
See MUCC works to stop raid on Natural Resources Trust Fund
See Michigan's Recreation Treasure Chest
and numerous articles about projects funded- search in the box at the upper left of this page for Natural Resources Trust Fund
See Michigan Votes to find actions on Michigan Legislation. Put Natural Resources Trust Fund in the search box.
These links are checked on the date of the article. As the article ages, some links may become invalid

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