A state budget report says Pennsylvania could save millions each year by combining currently separate fish and wildlife agencies into one.

The report, a feasibility study on a proposed merger of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, was the subject of a state House Game and Fisheries Committee meeting held on Wednesday in Harrisburg.  

Committee chairman state Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, said the report authored by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee provides persuasive details on a recommended merger between the two agencies that is expected to result in $5 million in annual savings to the state, while also eliminating redundancies through the termination of as many as 52 positions.  

Eric Levis’ job as press secretary with the Fish and Boat Commission is one of those headed to the chopping block if state lawmakers approve the plan.   

On Wednesday, Levis told The Era the Fish and Boat Commission and its Game Commission counterparts remain opposed to the merger, defending the agencies’ separate track records and independent structuring that has been in place for more than 100 years.

“We don’t think one mega agency is going to be automatically more efficient,” Levis said, citing fears that a singular fish and wildlife agency would be less efficient with fewer staff left to tackle a growing workload. “We’re doing a good job and we’re effective and there’s no need to merge us.”

In demonstrating that point, Levis pointed to earlier Legislative Budget and Finance Committee reports which identified the Fish and Boat Commission as one of the “most efficiently run state agencies when compared to other fish and wildlife agencies across the country … with the lowest expenditures per license.”

Echoing Levis, Game Commission press secretary Travis Lau told The Era on Wednesday that a merger would likely result in “lessened service and a decrease in the efficiency with which we deal with fish and wildlife services.”  

According to a state-run website, the Pennsylvania Game Commission regulates all hunting and trapping throughout the state while the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regulates all fishing and boating activities.

Lau also called the $5 million annual savings proposed in the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee merger study insignificant and said they would be offset by “hidden” consolidation costs.

These added expenses include the cost of completing the merger and those associated with branding the new agency, developing new logos and even “new letterhead,” Lau explained.

“Maybe most important of all, there is the argument that in merging the two something will be lost in terms of service in both agencies and what loses out then is the fish and wildlife and sportsmen,” Lau said, adding the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen Clubs supports separate fish and game commissions.  

But supporters like Causer question Pennsylvania’s standing as the last state in the union without a single entity approach to management of wildlife and aquatic resources.

Lau countered by saying Pennsylvania’s fish and wildlife agencies are supported largely by revenue through sportsmen licensing, not general fund dollars as is the case with combined agencies in most other states. This, he claims, requires Pennsylvania’s fish and wildlife agencies to be independent of each other.

But merger supporters like Causer say it’s time to re-evaluate the status quo.

“I know both agencies oppose it because they’re resistant to any change, and they say $5 million is insignificant, but to the people I represent $5 million is very significant,” Causer said. “I think a closer look is needed.”

Opinion is divided among Causer’s constituency, specifically the sportsmen of the 67th Legislative District he represents.

Those in favor of the measure, he said, “see pooling resources as positive,” equating more dollars being devoted to a single entity with better services.

Causer agrees, saying, “I think it’s something we should pursue. If we can pool resources to benefit sportsmen, I think we should pursue it and as a committee take a continued look at data in the report before making a determination on whether to move forward with legislation.”

“It’s gonna take some time,” Causer added. “As I pointed out today (Wednesday) change is slow to come in Pennsylvania. It takes time to make change and this would certainly be a big change.”

There is no further action currently scheduled.

Causer said actual layoffs associated with the merger would likely number less than the 52 initially quoted. Additionally, he claims eliminated positions would be concentrated at the agency’s Harrisburg headquarters, not out in the field.