The governor’s budget would add about 16 positions in three state departments to strengthen early detection capabilities and work more closely with local governments and organizations, said Keith Creagh, director of the Department of Natural Resources.
“Historically we’ve waited for the pest to make an impact before we’ve responded, and we’ve not been as successful as we need to be,” Creagh told The Associated Press. “We need to get ahead of the curve.”
Snyder’s plan seeks $6 million for the initiative in the 2014-15 fiscal year and $8 million in 2015-16. He also requested nearly $11 million for water quality and wetland preservation programs and for replacing a DNR Lake Huron fisheries research vessel.
The Nature Conservancy said the proposals would be Michigan’s first significant increase in general-fund spending on natural resources and environmental protection in more than 30 years.
