LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Forestry Commission will ask for 13 more firefighting positions in its budget, State Forester Joe Fox said Thursday.
Fox told members of the House and Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs committees that he needs state lawmakers to add as much as $1.9 million to the commission’s $18.1 million budget in fiscal 2014.
“Everybody is on call in our agency and they’re tired,” Fox said. “We need those people scattered around the state to give those folks a rest.”
Fox said 195 firefighters physically fight fires for the commission.
“That’s not enough,” he said.
The funding increase would go toward 20 jobs, single-engine air tankers that drop water on fires, and maintenance and fuel for trucks and bulldozers, Fox said.
About 55 percent of the state is timberland, Fox said. So far in 2012, the commission has fought 1,392 fires that damaged 21,064 acres, he told the committees.
It’s early in the season. Normally the worst of the firefighting season doesn’t start until August, Fox said.
As of Thursday, 60 of the state’s 75 counties were under a burn ban, according to the commission website.
The commission fought 324 fires that damaged 4,873 acres in June. The 10-year average for June is 65 fires damaging 491 acres.
Most of the commission’s budget is special revenue from the state nursery, timber severance taxes and a 15-cent-per-acre fire-protection tax on forestland. The commission also receives state general revenue and federal grants.
Years of declining revenue from the timber severance tax weakened the commission’s finances. In November 2011 it came to light that the commission had been inappropriately using federal grant money to pay payroll and operating expenses.
The commission laid off 34 employees, including 14 firefighters, because of the shortfall.
Gov. Mike Beebe shifted funds within the Department of Agriculture budget to restore 15 of the jobs in January.
“We would not be standing here if it were not for your help,” Fox told lawmakers. Fox was hired about three months ago to replace John Shannon, who resigned after the misuse of federal money became public.
Arkansas, Pages 13 on 07/27/2012