Michigan DNR budget increase despite GOP concerns

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(The Center Square) – Funding for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is increasing going into the new fiscal year, despite calls for its defunding.

Republicans have long been pushing for increased transparency and accountability at the department, which has recently faced a number of controversies.

While the recently-signed budget does not include cuts in gross appropriations for DNR, Republican lawmakers still applauded some of the changes the budget did make.

“We took significant steps to ensure the Department of Natural Resources would not have the resources or authority to continue their unchecked power grab throughout Michigan,” said Rep. Ken Borton, R-Gaylord. “Our budget agreement ensures the DNR will not continue its legal warfare against honest hog farmers, no solar or wind projects will be forced on state land, and no residents will be charged or fined for simply feeding the birds near their homes.”

Comparing the 2025-2026 fiscal budget, which was just signed at the beginning of the month, to last year’s budget, the department saw a slight increase in its funding. This comes despite a slight decrease in the overall budget spending.

Gross appropriations for the DNR increased from $534.6 million to $543.2 million. Like some other departments throughout the state, there was a slight drop in the number of employees at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

In the previous fiscal year, there were 2,539 full-time positions. In this coming year, there was a slight decrease to 2,509. Republicans labeled those 30 positions “ghost employees,” meaning the department received funding for them, but never filled them.

That means, while the department saw a 1.6% increase in its budget, it also had a 1.2% decrease in full-time positions.

While many of the agencies within the DNR saw relatively little change in their budgets from last year to this, the majority of the increase in funding came from an increase in one-time appropriations and capital expenditures for lands and infrastructure.

Some of those one-time appropriations included projects like:

• Fish production

• Ice storm wildlife protection

• Reforestation

Notably, the DNR’s budget also did not include any increases in hunting or fishing licensing fees. It will also not make it mandatory to buy a pass to state parks, something some Democrat lawmakers had proposed.

Borton praised both of those as wins for Michiganders.

“The DNR already has plenty of resources,” he said. “If they believe they need additional funding, they should look within instead of pursuing fee hikes that will drive more people away from the outdoors.”