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    09-002 News Fact Sheet - Proposed State Parks Budget Reductions

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    Tad Sooter
    The Governor proposed reducing the budget of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission by 10% or $10 million due to declining state revenue from the recession. This would lead the Commission to close administrative offices, reduce replacement of equipment, eliminate non-core services and programs, and close or seasonally close 15 parks. Thirteen parks could potentially be transferred to other government or non-profit owners to remain open to the public. Citizens are encouraged to provide comments on the proposed budget reductions and park closures.

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    09-002 News Fact Sheet - Proposed State Parks Budget Reductions

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    Tad Sooter
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    The Governor proposed reducing the budget of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission by 10% or $10 million due to declining state revenue from the recession. This would lead the Commission to close administrative offices, reduce replacement of equipment, eliminate non-core services and programs, and close or seasonally close 15 parks. Thirteen parks could potentially be transferred to other government or non-profit owners to remain open to the public. Citizens are encouraged to provide comments on the proposed budget reductions and park closures.

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    A State Parks fact sheet on proposed budget cuts, closures and transfers.

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    The Governor proposed reducing the budget of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission by 10% or $10 million due to declining state revenue from the recession. This would lead the Commission to close administrative offices, reduce replacement of equipment, eliminate non-core services and programs, and close or seasonally close 15 parks. Thirteen parks could potentially be transferred to other government or non-profit owners to remain open to the public. Citizens are encouraged to provide comments on the proposed budget reductions and park closures.

    Copyright:

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    Download as DOC or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc
    54 views2 pages

    09-002 News Fact Sheet - Proposed State Parks Budget Reductions

    Uploaded by

    Tad Sooter
    The Governor proposed reducing the budget of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission by 10% or $10 million due to declining state revenue from the recession. This would lead the Commission to close administrative offices, reduce replacement of equipment, eliminate non-core services and programs, and close or seasonally close 15 parks. Thirteen parks could potentially be transferred to other government or non-profit owners to remain open to the public. Citizens are encouraged to provide comments on the proposed budget reductions and park closures.

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    of 2

    Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

    09-002

    Governor’s 2009-11 budget proposal for State Parks


    The Governor and Legislature are faced with a huge challenge as they work to adopt and sign a
    final state budget for the 2009-11 biennium, which begins July 1, 2009. The deepening national
    recession and decreasing state revenue predictions have created an unprecedented situation for
    our state budget – one that will mean sacrifices in all kinds of state services.

    In the Governor’s proposal, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission would
    reduce its budget by 10 percent – approximately $10 million, to do its part in dealing with the
    state’s revenue shortfall. The final budget is scheduled for adoption in late April.

    The agency already has made reductions in headquarters, region offices and in the parks to get
    through the current fiscal year. State Parks will make other cuts first before moving to park
    closures to reduce its budget in 2009-11. In an agency where at least 75 percent of funding goes
    directly to operate parks, a reduction of this magnitude affects parks and services.

    Following is the list of State Parks’ proposed reductions under the Governor’s budget:

    1. Reduce administrative and program functions in headquarters and close one region
    office: State Parks will reduce staffing from administrative and program functions and go
    from operating four region offices to three region offices, in order to save remaining
    resources for core activities. Reduction: $3.5 million, some commensurate with park
    closures.

    2. Reduce equipment replacement program: State Parks has made progress in replacing
    obsolete equipment during the past few years, but in times like these, this program must
    be placed on hold. Reduction: Approximately $2 million

    3. Eliminate specific “extra” funded services: These are services and programs that State
    Parks knows are valued by visitors but are not core services for State Parks. In times like
    these, to preserve core services, State Parks would eliminate agency funding support for
    partner-initiated or shared programming and concession activities and drop some funded
    programs considered non-core. Reduction: $1 million

    4. Expand seasonal closures and transfer, mothball or close parks: Extend or expand
    seasonal park closures and transfer, mothball or close 15 parks and an environmental
    education program. $3.5 million (direct park cost, not considering region and centralized
    overhead costs).

    13 parks available for transfer: Of the parks identified for possible closure, 13 could eventually
    be transferred to other government or non-profit owners. The Commission intends that the parks
    remain available to the public. These are Osoyoos, Brooks Memorial, Schafer, Bogachiel, Tolmie,
    Fay Bainbridge, Fort Okanogan, Wenberg, Fort Ward, Joemma Beach, Kopachuck, Lake Sylvia
    and Old Fort Townsend.

    Check out the Centennial 2013 Plan at


    www.parks.wa.gov/centennial2013/
    Other closures: Moran environmental education program could be closed with the possibility it
    could be reopened at a later time when state resources become available. State Parks is continuing
    to analyze costs and revenues associated with the Center. Nolte and Squilchuck state parks also
    would be closed until state resources once again became available. These properties would
    remain in the state inventory.

    State Parks will honor any camping reservations in the affected parks through Labor Day of 2009.
    Some of the other parks could close earlier.

    How the parks were chosen: The 13 parks that could be transferred to other owners are in a
    category of parks deemed by the Commission as “potentially consistent” with the Centennial
    2013 Vision. The Commission’s vision, adopted in 2003, identifies a system of parks of
    uncommon quality,” parks of statewide or greater regional significance. In 2004, the Commission
    set out to evaluate each and every park property in the State Parks system using a nine-point
    metric to determine whether the state was holding properties appropriate for state parks. During
    the two-year process, several park properties (undeveloped) were deemed inconsistent with the
    Vision, and these properties have largely been sold, with the proceeds going into the state
    mandated “parks acquisition account” to be used only for purchase of other parklands.
    “Potentially consistent” parks are those that were recognized as needing a significant investment
    in the future to bring them to the standard of the Centennial Vision. During discussions, the
    Commission noted that these parks also could be suitable for eventual operation by other
    government or non-profit entities.

    Criteria used: The parks were evaluated using these criteria: significance (historic or
    uncommon natural or cultural resources; high visitation or operating at a high percentage of
    capacity; number and quality of visitor experiences; unique experiences; outstanding example of
    specific habitat or flora and fauna; well-known for scenic qualities; of sufficient size to
    accommodate current and future park uses and still maintain quality of experience; condition of
    facilities or buildings onsite; high ratio of earned revenue to management cost.

    What’s next: The Legislature is expected to adopt its budget, with the Governor signing the final
    budget into law in April 2009. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission then will
    implement the budget that is adopted.

    Citizen comment: Citizens may comment to the Commission by e-mail to: [email protected],
    or by letter to Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, P.O. Box 2650, Olympia,
    WA, 98504-2650. Citizens also may comment on budget proposals at Commission regular public
    meetings. For up-to-date information about meeting times, locations and agendas, visit
    www.parks.wa.gov/commtg.asp.

    1-26-09

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