COBI 2015 - Predatory Animal Control

Overview
Issues
Performance
Background
Financials

Sources Uses

FY 2016 Appropriation

The objective of the Predatory Animal Control program is to minimize livestock and wildlife losses to predators on private, state and federal land. This objective is met by using non-lethal and some lethal control methods. Every year Utah woolgrowers lose about 10% of their animals to predators. Cattle ranchers suffer losses to coyotes, mountain lions, bears, and other predators. Annual livestock losses to predators cost an estimated $3 million even with the program in place.

The program must maintain a balance, and not only be responsive to predation losses, but must be selective in the removal of predators to meet objectives of DWR. Corrective control of cougar and bear losses is conducted only after livestock kills are confirmed, while preventative control of coyote damage is used to reduce depredation of sheep and calves. Also, the program coordinates with DWR to remove predators that prey on vulnerable wildlife populations, such as specific mule deer herds, threatened and endangered species, or reintroduced populations of native wildlife.

Funding History

Appropriation Overview

During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $1,647,200 from all sources for Predatory Animal Control. This is a 20.7 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $819,300 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 3.1 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.

The following are the top measures chosen by the agency management to gauge the success of this program.

Percent of Calf Losses

Calf Losses: The figure below presents the percent of calf losses due to predators over time. The program has exceeded the goal of this measure and kept the calf losses to much less than 1%.

Percent of Lamb Losses

Lamb Losses: The third measure tracks the percent of lamb losses due to predators over time.

Percent of Sheep Losses

Sheep Losses: The second measure tacks the percent of sheep losses due to predators over time. The program has exceeded the goal of this measure and has kept the sheep losses to less than 3%.

Statute

This program is governed by UCA 4-23, the Utah Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Act.

The Predatory Animal Control program operates under guidance of the nine-member Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Board. The Commissioner and the Director of the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) serve as the board's chair and vice chair. This line item consists of just one program.

This program is a cooperative effort between the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. The cooperative program is jointly financed, with the federal government paying about half of the cost.

Intent Language

HB0003: Item 126

Under the terms of 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided for Predatory Animal Control in Item 30, Chapter 5, Laws of Utah 2014, shall not lapse at the close of FY 2015. Expenditures of these funds are limited to: Employee Training/Incentives $40,000; Equipment/Supplies $50,000; Vehicles $30,000; Special Projects/Studies $200,000.

HB0003: Item 126

The Legislature intends that Department of Agriculture and Food purchase one new vehicle in FY 2015 for the Predatory Animal Control line item.

The primary funding source is the General Fund (including General Fund transfers from the Division of Wildlife Resources), although some funding comes from the General Fund Restricted - Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Fund. Revenue to the restricted account comes from annual predator control fees (nicknamed a "head tax") imposed on sheep, goats, cattle and turkeys that the program is designed to protect. Some of the revenue from sheep and fleece also goes to fund the Sheep Promotion program.

UCA 4-23-9 requires the department to request General Funds at least equal to 120 percent of the money collected from the "head tax" during the previous fiscal year. The Legislature's base appropriation is approximately two times this statutory minimum.

Display By:

Funding Source

Expenditure Category

Appropriation Type:

Appropriation History by

Programs	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Predatory Animal Control	1,472,800	1,568,400	1,804,400	1,807,000	1,484,200	(120,000)	1,364,200	283,000	1,647,200
Total	$1,472,800	$1,568,400	$1,804,400	$1,807,000	$1,484,200	($120,000)	$1,364,200	$283,000	$1,647,200

Sources of Finance	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
General Fund	733,300	723,600	760,500	777,700	789,800	0	789,800	24,100	813,900
General Fund, One-time	0	0	0	(6,600)	4,600	0	4,600	800	5,400
GFR - Wildlife Damage Prev	572,100	324,500	602,300	626,300	629,100	0	629,100	18,100	647,200
Transfers	584,500	684,600	659,600	659,600	60,700	0	60,700	0	60,700
Beginning Nonlapsing	150,000	200,000	200,000	200,000	0	200,000	200,000	120,000	320,000
Closing Nonlapsing	(200,000)	(200,000)	(200,000)	(200,000)	0	(320,000)	(320,000)	120,000	(200,000)
Lapsing Balance	(367,100)	(164,300)	(218,000)	(250,000)	0	0	0	0	0
Total	$1,472,800	$1,568,400	$1,804,400	$1,807,000	$1,484,200	($120,000)	$1,364,200	$283,000	$1,647,200

Categories of Expenditure	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Personnel Services	889,800	901,700	896,000	1,014,200	983,000	(15,300)	967,700	30,000	997,700
In-state Travel	27,700	30,400	26,900	22,900	30,400	0	30,400	0	30,400
Out-of-state Travel	0	0	0	2,100	0	0	0	0	0
Current Expense	426,900	370,500	410,100	296,000	204,200	(103,900)	100,300	253,300	353,600
DP Current Expense	0	100	600	1,200	900	(800)	100	(300)	(200)
Capital Outlay	0	0	0	29,400	0	0	0	0	0
Other Charges/Pass Thru	128,400	265,700	470,800	441,200	265,700	0	265,700	0	265,700
Total	$1,472,800	$1,568,400	$1,804,400	$1,807,000	$1,484,200	($120,000)	$1,364,200	$283,000	$1,647,200

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Other Indicators	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Revised	FY16 Approp
Budgeted FTE	16	16	16	16	16	16	16
Actual FTE	16.40	16.40	15.80	16	0	0	0
Vehicles	17	17	17	17	17	17	17

COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.