The only question that remains is, which ones?
Bahl said the system--which gets no direct taxpayer dollars--is being crippled because of the legislative action to take away a chunk of the funds they get from other sources. That includes not only the fees paid by those who go to the parks but also special funds raised from assessments on registration of boats and off-road vehicles.The bottom line, she said, is that her agency will have just $7.5 million to spend rather than the $19 million it had planned for the fiscal year that began last July 1.
Bahl said she will make specific recommendations to the board on which parks to close in two weeks at their January 15th meeting. The bad news is that it will likely close the smallest and least used of the parks. But, she said, the cash from the parks that stay open might eventually be enough to reopen one or more of those shut down.
Topping the list of money producers is Kartchner Caverns, followed by Slide Rock in Sedona, and Lake Havasu state parks. Catalina State Park brings in about $193,000 more a year than it costs to operate.
At the bottom of the list is Tonto Natural Bridge near Payson, where costs exceed revenues by $541,000. Red Rock State Park at Sedona operates on a $190,000-a-year loss, with six-digit deficits at Tubac Presidio, Picacho Peak, Homolovi Ruins and the Riordan Mansion in Flagstaff.
Can this be the end of these parks?
Bahl said, though, the board will have to consider other factors when deciding which parks should be shut down.
"There's one-time costs like fencing or if we needed to add a security system to a building or board something up," she said. "And we're still going to need to keep an eye on it after that, checking it both for fire hazards and seeing if there's any trespassing.”
Do they not recognize that the parks bring in more in tax dollars from visitors to communities than just the cost to operate the parks? Can lawmakers be that clueless?
What about the idea that was recently floated about putting an optional $15 surcharge on the registration fees for all vehicles in the state. The fees would raise enough to keep the system operating, with motorists who paid the extra cash getting free admission all year to every state park. Sounds like a win-win situation to me.
Many of the parks will be lost forever because of previous legal agreements. For example, the Tombstone Courthouse and parking lot reverse to previous owners if it is permanently closed. Land at Picacho Peak and Lost Dutchman reverts to the federal Bureau of Land Management if they are no longer operated as parks, with the Defenders of Wildlife entitled to reclaim Oracle State Park if shuttered. Yuma Prison would have to be given back to the federal government.
Do you want to do something about it? Well, you can. And you don’t have to be a resident of Arizona either.
Call, email, or write Governor Jan Brewer and urge her to veto the parks cuts (a sample letter can be found on the State Park Foundation’s Website).
Phone: 602-542-4331 or 800-253-0883
Email via Governor's Contact page at: www.governor.state.az.us/Contact.asp
Mail: The Honorable Jan Brewer, Governor of Arizona,
1700 West Washington, Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Do it now! And pass the word among those snowbirding in Arizona. You may not have another chance!
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