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Notes off a soiled cuff: Will Pennsylvania lawmakers dip into Game Commission’s reserve fund?

"With the General Assembly facing such a dire fiscal situation, it seems to me, there is no way lawmakers won’t take much of that $504 million to somehow help plug the gap," writes Jeff Mulhollem. (Stock photo)

Watching and listening to Sen. Greg Rothman question Steve Smith, Pennsylvania Game Commission executive director, about the agency’s humongous reserve fund at a recent Senate hearing was almost painful.
With Pennsylvania facing a projected structural budget deficit of approximately $4.8 billion to $6 billion for the 2025-26 or 2026-27 fiscal years – and Game Commission leaders unable to articulate a plan for the money – you can see where this is going.

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