Michigan DNR revenue falls as demand for deer licenses slides

MENOMINEE, MICH. – Fewer deer hunters in Michigan mean less revenue from hunting licenses, said Joe Sage, a wildlife biologist at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in an Oct. 14 presentation before the Menominee County Board. He said the department is relying on more donations to offset declines in license revenue.

“Hunters and trappers have historically funded most wildlife conservation,” Sage said. The state’s wildlife division budget totaled about $47 million in 2024, with 47% from federal sources, 40% from state game and fish protection license fees and 12% from general funds. Pass-through grants from partners also contribute revenue. License fees have contributed over $2.5 million, but the number of deer hunters has declined about 31% since 1995.

“License fees have not increased in 10 years. Inflation and rising costs are taking a toll. We’re increasingly relying on partnerships and donations to get our job done,” he said.

County Board Chair Larry Phelps asked why the state of Michigan was selling property, “It was taboo ten years ago… They’re buying and clear-cutting, which is diminishing wildlife. The state had to know that when they began selling property.”

Sage said a review process is supposed to ensure criteria is followed in determining land sales. “It’s not supposed to be done willy-nilly,” he said. In some cases, funds from land sales are used to purchase more valuable land or land is traded.

The county board approved the 2025 apportionment report, which lists millage rates and tax levies for the county and other taxing bodies. City of Menominee property owners could pay a millage rate that’s double what township homeowners will pay, according to the report.

A millage rate is the amount of taxes per $1,000 in property value an owner is expected to pay in a given year.

The 2025 millage rate for Menominee city residents is 43.9792 if they live in their homes and 61.9792 if they own but don’t live in the property, according to the 2025 Menominee County Apportionment Report. This compares with the City of Stephenson’s millage rate of 33.3652 for homestead property owners, while millage rates in the townships range from 21.8652 in Stephenson Township to 26.9318 in Spaulding Township in the northern part of the county.

Millage rates inched down for the county and most townships and municipalities, according to the apportionment report, but many property owners could pay more because of increases in their property values.

The 2025 apportionment report presents a total tax levy of $37.9 million, including all schools, townships and taxing bodies. The levy represents a 3.8% increase from $36.6 million in 2024.

The county’s share is $12.3 million, or about 32% of the total, up from $11.9 million a year ago. The local school districts stand to collect $14.8 million, or 39% of the total tax levy. The intermediate school districts will receive about $3.3 million, or 9% of the total.

The townships, cities and villages are set to receive $7.6 million, or 20% of the total, including revenue for emergency medical services, with the City of Menominee in line for about $5.6 million.

With a fund balance of about $5.4 million and property tax revenue expected to generate $7.2 million in the new fiscal year, the County Board unanimously agreed at its last meeting to make an extra $750,000 payment to the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System (MERS) of Michigan for county employee pensions.

Andy Primeaux, the county’s 911 director, said the call-answering dispatch technology the county has used since 2010 is nearing the end of its lifecycle. Primeaux said for the past several years he has been working to evaluate the best bids and vendors for a new 911 emergency call answering and emergency service dispatching system. A consulting firm, TSSI, is assisting with the project. Primeaux is estimating the project cost for Menominee County at about $408,240, including about $69,000 the first year. He also is working on a state grant that would provide funds for the project.

North Pointe Behavioral Health CEO Mandy Padget spoke to the board about the need for more transportation for patients to receive services. “There’s a transportation problem in the Upper Peninsula,” she said, which is making it more difficult for people to access the health care they need. Overall, though, she said, “people are getting the services they need.”

The board appointed James Knuth to represent the Democratic Party and Leon Felch to represent the Republican Party on the Menominee County Board of Canvassers for a four-year term.

The board also passed a resolution allowing the sheriff’s department to place security cameras in Michigan Department of Transportation road right of ways.

It approved a 2026 fair manager contract for no more than $23,000 with Debbie Smith as fair manager for the 2026 Menominee County Fair. It approved service agreements with the Menominee Business Development Corporation, the Menominee Animal Shelter and the Public Health of Delta and Menominee Counties.

The board approved a $83,000 bid for a roofing project for the Menominee County Library.