Governor Pritzker's Proposed Budget for Department of Natural Resources

Today Governor Pritzker released his FY20 proposed operating budget for the DNR. You can find it on page 256 of the Proposed Operating Budget. An operating budget is where 'appropriations are for consumable goods and services such as salaries and benefits, commodities, utilities, and professional services that are purchased and used during any one fiscal year.

The Governor’s recommended FY20 budget supports a Conservation Police Officer trainee class of 20 to help with the reduction due to retirement.

The proposed budget fully funds historic sites and preservation operations at last year's levels and maintains operations of all state parks and campgrounds.

Governor Pritzker appoints Colleen Callahan as the New Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Since the day after the election we have been asked, 'Do you know who the next director is going to be?'  While there were rumors and we had our own speculation, the time has come, we can finally answer the question we've all been wondering.

Governor JB Pritzker has appointed Colleen Callahan as the new Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.  "Callahan currently manages her own communications consulting firm after spending over seven years as state director for USDA Rural Development in Illinois. During her tenure, she oversaw a 20% reduction in staffing while still being able to generate a $1 billion increase in the Illinois loan portfolio. Prior, Callahan served as the agribusiness director for WMBD in Peoria, a position she held for 30 years. She was the first female president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Callahan received her Bachelor of Science in agricultural communications from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign." Source

First, let me point out that in the last 20 years the IDNR has had four directors. Colleen Callahan will be the fifth. During that time the agency has seen massive budget cuts, disappointing leadership, the reduction of Conservation Police Officers and so on.

While some of you may have different opinions with Colleen Callahan, we have to set our differences aside and will work together.  Capitol Outdoors will continue to make sure that you are an informed hunter and angler. There is a lot of work to be done, but if Governor Pritzker wants to turn around Illinois, this agency is one place he can start.

Governor Pritzker,  let Colleen do her job and bring the DNR back to a time of, open communication, transparency, and pride.  The IDNR needs to step out of the darkness, quit hiding from the public and be the agency that we all hope they can be.