ALAMOSA An important bank account for the new Colorado Parks and Wildlife division will become increasingly drained over the next several years, even after officials froze all capital projects for the year.
The balance in the Wildlife Cash Fund which pays for most game management activities will drop to $5 million by 2014, from a current $16 million. Just four years ago, the account had a $42 million balance, said Steve Cassin, the agencys chief financial officer.
Thats a number that cant go to zero. If it goes to zero, youre broke and you cant do business, Cassin told the Parks and Wildlife Commission at its monthly meeting Thursday.
Commissioners remained incredulous about the accounting error at the root of the troubles. State legislators have called for an audit, but it has not started yet.
It is mystifying to me. Is the audit going to un-mystify it? asked Commissioner David Brougham.
As late as this summer, commissioners thought they had $32 million more than they actually did. They had been making spending decisions since 2008 based on that bad information.
When new budget experts took over and looked at the books, they discovered the problem. They first reported it to commissioners and the public last month.
Money was not misspent, and nothing is missing, Cassin said. He compared the error to a homeowner who pays the mortgage and monthly bills and records everything in the check register, but then makes a math error when figuring out the account balance.
The goof has made for a rocky start for the states newest government agency.
The problem occurred at the Division of Wildlife before it merged with state parks to form the Colorado Parks and Wildlife division.
When the Legislature approved the merger this spring, observers thought the wildlife agency was the financially stronger of the two, thanks to its steady income from hunting and fishing licenses.
For a short-term fix, Parks and Wildlife leaders froze most of their capital projects for the year, including a planned move of the Southwest regional headquarters out of Durango into Gunnison.
But commissioners did not discuss a long-term solution Thursday. The divisions budget experts will meet Monday to review options the commission can consider this fall.
Also Wednesday, the Legislatures Capital Development Committee delayed a request by the Parks and Wildlife division to purchase three properties until lawmakers can get better information on the divisions finances, said Rick Cables, director of the division.
The commission is a governor-appointed board that sets policy for the agency but doesnt get involved with day-to-day operations.
The chairman, Tim Glenn, said he wants to delegate some commissioners to keep a closer eye on the books.
As a new agency moving forward, I just think we really have to start on a clean slate, Glenn said. I just want to make sure that were exploring everything, that were turning over every rock.
Reach Joe Hanel at joeh@cortezjournal.com.