Michigan Department of Natural Resources paid quarter-million on ads at gas station pumps

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources paid $266,000 to advertise at gas pumps in fiscal years 2024 and 2025, according to a document obtained through a records request.

In fiscal year 2024, the agency’s media spending included $25,000 on the topic of fire prevention, $56,000 on spring forestry and $40,000 on fall forestry. In each case, the agency said, it received an equal amount of “added media” — an industry term for bonus placements, discounts or other inducements.

The next fiscal year, the agency’s media spending included $25,000 on fire prevention, $70,000 on spring forestry and $40,000 on Nature Awaits, a program that offers field trips to fourth-grade students.

DNR_FY24-25_GSTV (3) by mcclallen on Scribd

In May, Rep. Dave Prestin, R-Cedar River, said that the DNR budget passed by the Senate would not make it past the House.

“DNR logic says it’s reasonable to make seniors and children shoulder the largest burden of license fee increases. DNR logic justifies forcing people who’ve never even heard of our state parks — let alone know how to get to one — to pay for them anyway, including seniors, college students, and other people with zero interest in our state parks. Every single license plate will be charged a passport fee... House Republicans aren’t so gullible; bipartisan or not, this budget proposal is dead.”

The Senate’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 is $84.6 billion. If that budget passes the House and and is signed into law by the governor, the department would hike the registration fees of every vehicle by $10. It also would raise fees on boating and fishing, Michigan Capitol Confidential has reported.

The Senate’s budget recommendation exceeds Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposal by more than a billion dollars.

The fee increases in the Senate budget come after a six-year period during which Michigan’s budget has grown by 47%.

Michigan aims to raise $43.5 million in revenue through higher recreational fees. The higher hunting and fishing fees are intended to raise $28.8 million, and the higher boating fee aims to bring in $12 million. The new Department of Natural Resources budget would fund 29 new full-time employees.

Republicans panned the budget enacted by the majority Democrats. It includes unnecessary spending, including a $1 million fund that could enable those with previous marijuana convictions to enter the marijuana business, said Sen. John Damoose, R-Harbor Springs.

The Senate and House must approve a plan before sending it to the governor for review and approval.

Michigan Capitol Confidential has filed more than 200 records requests since May 2024.