Number: 1989-24
WHEREAS, lands acquired by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for the National Wildlife Refuge System are removed from county tax rolls; and
WHEREAS, the Refuge Revenue Sharing Act of 1935 (U.S.C. 715a, as amended by P.L. 95-469 of 1978) authorizes Congress to make payments, through FWS, to counties in which National Wildlife Refuges and other FWS properties are located to fully compensate counties for loss of tax revenues; and
WHEREAS, since 1980, Congress has not appropriated sufficient funds to fully (100%) compensate counties for National Wildlife Refuges and other FWS properties occurring within county borders; and
WHEREAS, the shortfall between full compensation and the amount appropriated by Congress has increased since 1980, with payments from the Fund covering only about 55% of the counties’ Fiscal Year 1988 requirements; and
WHEREAS, this growing shortfall has hindered efforts by the FWS to acquire key parcels of land because county governments in several states, particularly Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and North Carolina, have opposed such acquisitions without full compensation; and
WHEREAS, acquisition of wetlands and other important fish and wildlife habitats are vital to the future of the Nation’s fish and wildlife resources;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 16-19, 1989, in Arlington, Virginia, hereby urges Congress to appropriate sufficient funds to the National Wildlife Refuge Fund for Fiscal Year 1990 to enable the FWS to fully compensate counties for loss of tax revenues; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Congress immediately review the Refuge Revenue Sharing Act and other pertinent legislation to establish a mechanism to provide for automatic appropriations sufficient to compensate fully (100%) for future shortfalls when they occur.