[Source: Arizona Republic] — The stalactites at Kartchner Caverns and the quail at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge have something in common. Inadequate budgets are threatening them. Two of Arizona’s premier systems of recreation and preservation are at risk.
Our Arizona State Parks agency has developed a huge maintenance backlog, because budget cuts have forced it to use up capital funds for everyday operating expenses. Our eight federal wildlife refuges are losing 16 percent of their staff. It’s part of a national cutback by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to make up for shortfalls in funding. In both cases, we risk long-term damage from shortsighted penny pinching. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]