Dick said the DNR is taking the LAB report seriously, even if there is some disagreement over some of the allegations. “We are working on our electronic recording efforts while having our staff focus on maintaining or increasing the number of inspections. We set inspection goals that are approved by the EPA and those goals are being met,” Dick said.

Walker has said he wouldn’t rule out increasing funding for the DNR in the biennial budget that will be debated next year. In addition, State Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay, has called for an increase in funding for the DNR by having more of the permit fee revenue it collects stay with the agency rather than going nto the general fund.

According to the audit bureau report, in 2014-15 only about $72,000 of the $5.4 million collected went into accounts dedicated to environmental management, and the numbers in the report were similar going back to 2005.

The disconnect between fees and amount spent on enforcement and permit oversight doesn’t sit well with state Rep. Steve Doyle, D-Onalaska. “We are now basically shaking down these entities, but the service that is being provided doesn’t seem to have any relationship at all to that fee,” he said. “That just to me feels wrong.”