Sporting Goods Tax Registering Little Backing National Push Seeks Money For Nongame Species, Programs
A national drive to tax sporting goods to support nongame species isn’t getting much support in Idaho.
There’s a national move to add tax to the sale of outdoor goods, guns and ammunition, fishing gear, recreational and sports utility vehicles. The money would be dedicated to nongame programs, largely ignored by fish and wildlife organizations that cater to the sportsmen who pay the bills.
Idaho spends less than $400,000 on nongame species. Some estimates are that if the new tax is imposed, Idaho’s share could be close to 10 times as much as it now spends, close to $4 million.
Wayne Melquist, nongame wildlife manager for the Idaho Fish and Game Department, said the money could do a lot in Idaho. He said there are about 420 nongame species in the state, about 80 percent of all animal species.
Money could go to a variety of projects, such as wildlife observation facilities, trail maintenance and development and educational programs.
The Fish and Game Commission, governor’s office and members of the state congressional delegation are not among the supporters.
“If I were to gauge the sentiments of the commission, I think everybody agrees with the concept of finding a funding source for nongame,” said Fish and Game Commission Chairman John Burns. “I think the rub is that we are not in total agreement on exactly where it should come from.”
A spokesman for Rep. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said it’s a tax increase and Crapo is against it. The governor’s office said Gov. Phil Batt has no position on the proposal.
Max Peterson is executive vice president of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, which is behind the effort to get Congress to approve the tax. Peterson, former head of the U.S. Forest Service, said he expects to see the bill introduced soon.
The Idaho Cattle Association is against the tax.
“It’s too shotgun, too broad,” said George Bennett of the association.
“The published list of what they are going to tax takes in a number of things we consider essential to our work,” he said. “We think that is unfair.”
Bennett also noted if the tax is imposed, Idaho would have to come up with a 25 percent match for any federal funds it gets, and that would be almost impossible.