Fish & Boat Commission Worries About Financial Future - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

The head of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission told an Erie audience today his agency needs financial help.

 John Arway told a state senate committee that right now the commission's finances are okay. But projections show a big deficit in a few years.

 He knows fishermen don't want increases in license or boat registration fees. So he is exploring cuts or new revenue streams. the big concern is the rising cost of employee health care and pensions.

 Arway said, "We are projecting we will need $9 million because of increased pension costs and medical care costs. So we want to start work now. We need to work now so we can pay our bills in 4 years."

 The commission has not raised license fees since 2005.