Arizona State Budget

Over 200 Arizonans rally for parks and conservation at Environmental Day at the Capitol

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[Source: Sandy Bahr, Sierra Club 2-1-2010] — Today at the Arizona State Capitol, more than 25 groups and over 200 people rallied for Arizona State Parks.  Speakers at the rally included House Minority Whip, Representative Chad Campbell; State Parks Board Chair, Reese Woodling; Richard Dozer, Chairman, Governor’s Sustainable State Parks Task Force; Bill Meek, Chairman, Arizona State Parks Foundation; and Elizabeth Woodin, President, Arizona Heritage Alliance.  They all focused on the challenges to the parks, but importantly, on what everyone can do to help save the State Parks and the State Parks system.

Arizona State Parks’ system consists of 27 parks and three natural areas and includes places such as Homolovi Ruins, the Tubac Presidio, Lost Dutchman State Park, Kartchner Caverns, among many others.  Recently, the State Parks Board voted to close 13 of these parks due to the lack of operational funding.  Four additional parks had previously closed: Jerome State Historic Park, McFarland State Historic Park, Oracle State Park, and the San Rafael Natural Area.  By mid-year 2010, more than half of our State Park system will be closed and, without additional funding, nine more parks will likely close later this year.

The parks are closing because the Arizona Legislature has left them with almost no operational dollars.  Arizona State Parks has had no increase in operating funds since 2002, a limited capital budget since 2003, and unmet capital needs of $150 million.  The agency currently stands at a 40 percent personnel vacancy rate.  The latest cuts by the Legislature will mean the loss of 70 more positions.  At parks where law enforcement, public safety, and water safety must be provided, reductions in staff means those parks must close.  State Parks was prepared to limp along with a seasonal park system on $19 million of revenue composed mainly of the enhancement fund (park entrance fees), state lake improvement fund (gas and usage tax), and lottery revenues (Heritage Fund).  However, the Arizona Legislature diverted and swept away about half of that, leaving State Parks with almost no source of operating funds.

“These 30 exceptional places have been conserved over the past half century for the recreational, environmental, and cultural enjoyment of all Arizonans,” said Sandy Bahr with the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon (Arizona) Chapter.  “They represent our history and our future.  We must do better as stewards of these amazing resources.”

Arizona’s rural areas to suffer from state park closures

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Poppies in bloom attracted visitors for years at Picacho Peak Park, with cars lining the highway to get off the exit (Photo: Steven King)

[Source: Lindsey Gemme, Casa Grande Dispatch] — Inciting protests on the Capital Mall of over 100 people earlier this month in response to closing of state parks, it looks like all but one in Pinal County will be a victim of the budget crisis starting June 3 if another solution isn’t found soon.  Should Picacho State Park close, like many parks in similarly rural areas, local businesses would suffer without the thousands of locals and out-of-staters coming through for poppies and events like the Civil War re-enactment.

According to the Arizona State Parks executive director Renee Bahl, state parks will net only $8 million, nowhere near covering the $26 million in operational budget expenses last year. That $26 million budget, which was still $10 million short, according to republican State Senator Frank Pratt, will see a searing cut down to $7.5 million. With that additional deep cut, the State Parks Board voted earlier this month to close 21 of the Arizona’s 30 recreation, state and historic park areas.

Beaudry RV Co. concerned with Arizona’s decision to close state parks

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Arizona’s decision to close half their state parks has Beaudry RV Company concerned for RVers as well as the state.  RVers flock to Arizona during the winter months and bring millions of dollars in tourism to the state.  Having parks like Red Rock State Park in Sedona close will be a huge loss as a destination for RVers as well as Arizona.

Last year California’s proposal to close state parks resulted in a strong outcry from park advocates, forcing Governor Schwarzenegger to come up with an alternate solution to fund parks. Other states such as Iowa, Lousiana and Idaho may close all or part of their state parks.

The Arizona State Parks lost over two thirds of its $26 million budget in the last fiscal year. 8 parks have been closed, 13 more by June of this year.  This leaves only 9 parks open with no guarantees.  “Many local towns depend on tourism revenue that the parks create, closures could be disastrous for these communities,” says Thom Sylvester at Beaudry RV Company.  “This raises some red flags.  We strongly encourage those who enjoy our great state to write local representatives in opposition of the closures.  It is a great loss to our state.”

The Game & Fish Heritage Fund: What its loss will mean to Arizona

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On January 15, 2010, the Governor’s office released a budget plan that proposes to permanently eliminate the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s voter-approved $10 million Heritage Fund and redirect all Arizona State Lottery revenue to the state’s general fund.  That proposal has been sent for consideration by the Legislature.

Adoption of this proposal could have significant impacts on Arizona’s land use and growth that will be vital for the state’s economic recovery, as well as affecting outdoor recreationists and the future well-being of the state’s wildlife.

Arizona Game and Fish is a business-model agency that receives no Arizona tax dollars.  The department acknowledges the difficulties the state faces in addressing the budget situation, but it is critical that the customers who pay the bills in this “user pay, user benefit” model are informed and educated on the potential statewide effects that could result from a permanent elimination of Heritage funding.  Those effects potentially include constraints on land use that could affect our state’s economic recovery.

The 45-minute video below is from an informational public presentation and webcast given by the department on Feb. 2 at its Phoenix office.  The presentation covers the history of the Heritage Fund, what it’s used for, how it benefits Arizona, and the impacts to Arizona citizens if the fund is lost.