Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
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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 afinal state budget for the 2009-11 biennium, which begins July 1, 2009. The deepening nationalrecession 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 wouldreduce its budget by 10 percent – approximately $10 million, to do its part in dealing with thestate’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 getthrough 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 goesdirectly 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 regionoffice:
State Parks will reduce staffing from administrative and program functions and gofrom operating four region offices to three region offices, in order to save remainingresources for core activities. Reduction: $3.5 million, some commensurate with park closures.2.
Reduce equipment replacement program:
State Parks has made progress in replacingobsolete equipment during the past few years, but in times like these, this program must be placed on hold. Reduction: Approximately $2 million3.
Eliminate specific “extra” funded services:
These are services and programs that StateParks knows are valued by visitors but are not core services for State Parks. In times likethese, 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 million4.
Expand seasonal closures and transfer, mothball or close parks:
Extend or expandseasonal park closures and transfer, mothball or close 15 parks and an environmentaleducation program. $3.5 million (direct park cost, not considering region and centralizedoverhead 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 parksremain available to the public. These are Osoyoos, Brooks Memorial, Schafer, Bogachiel, Tolmie,Fay Bainbridge, Fort Okanogan, Wenberg, Fort Ward, Joemma Beach, Kopachuck, Lake Sylviaand Old Fort Townsend.
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