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Wisconsin Natural Resources Board members on Wednesday questioned the wisdom of spending millions of dollars to move the state forestry headquarters out of Madison as conservation groups urged stronger clean water and wildlife programs.

The board unanimously approved a budget request prepared by the state Department of Natural Resources that calls for a 2.1 percent decrease in operational spending.

Environmentalists said the DNR needs more resources, not less, to fix serious staffing problems highlighted by a state audit this year, and dozens of shortcomings in water pollution controls that have prompted federal officials to schedule their own review of department files next month.

But board members complimented DNR staff on the budget proposal while raising questions about the projected cost of up to $17 million over 20 years to move forestry supervisors to a new headquarters closer to where most timber cutting takes place.

The estimated expenditures are in a DNR study mandated in the last state budget by Gov. Scott Walker and the Legislature.

Board member Frederick Prehn said the public may not understand how many DNR forestry employees are already working in field offices up north.