In a 5th Legislative Special Session on December 17, 2009, elected officials continue to play with the future of Arizona. They could easily be rewriting the history of the state. They are a legislature that seems to be unable to make difficult decisions and still maintain the integrity of this great state. Their position has been no temporary tax increase and cut spending. Thus far, every special session has added new cuts, loss of personnel and services. The most recent cuts in a proposed House Bill 2001 calls for a further reduction of 7.5% to all state agencies budgets and reallocation of funds. The Secretary of State's office has stated that it is now too late to consider a tax referendum because of time constraints.
Arizona State Parks would lose $3,151,100 in Fund reductions and transfers along with Fund sweeps of $6,088,700. Apparently the studies done by Northern Arizona University, The Morrison Institute and the Governor's Task Force on State Parks Sustainability had no impact on the legislature. The impact of this cut could reduce revenue to the state's economy by over $266 million dollars.
When you think of the stories of our National Parks by Ken Burns, "One of America's Greatest Ideas", you have to wonder what America will say about Arizona's destruction of their State Parks System. That is exactly what will happen if this current bill passes. More people will lose their jobs and parks will have to close. The loss of revenue will force the Parks System to dispose of property purchased and paid for by the people of Arizona, to benefit the people of Arizona, now and in the future.
"The city of Phoenix just added just added 294 acres of land to a new preserve located at 7th Street and the Carefree Highway. The acreage was purchased with funds supplied through the Phoenix Parks and Preserve Initiative and Arizona Preserve Initiative (Growing Smarter Funds). The public lands purchased were reclassified for conservation through the API, established by the Governor and Legislature in 1996. Voters passed Growing Smarter in 1998 to fund the matching grant provision of the API through 2012. The Phoenix Parks and Preserve Initiative funds were raised with a vote by 83% of the people in Phoenix to raise sales tax over a 30-year period." Apparently the majority of people in Phoenix want to keep their parks and open space. The matching funds for the purchase came from a Growing Smarter Fund Grant that is administered by State Parks. What happens if State Parks is no longer there and the legislature keeps cutting? Would they be missed?
Comments
Great article Scott
Someone needs to call our ?leaders? on the carpet & point out what they seem oblivious to recognize.
Maybe you should run for office
Bob Sejkora
I simply don't understand what your article is trying to say. What is happening? Our parks are our greatest asset and blessing.
Madelyn,
Over the last ten years, the legislature has swept operating funding from State Parks and this budget year is worse. They are not getting the capital funding they so desperately need. Now the legislature is going to cut another 7.5% from their budget which will cause more lay offs, closures and force sales of our parks because the Parks won't be able to afford to operate them.
Thanks Bob. However, I have no aspirations of running for office anywhere. Politicians and I can't seem to get along. It's always about the party preferences.
Scott, thanks for writing the article. If this bill passes and State Parks funding is moved to the general fund, not only will it have a huge impact on the current system, but future donors and volunteers will be discouraged.
Does this bill sweep the Foundation's bank account? If so, money that was donated specifically for ASP will go elsewhere. Future donors will not have assurance that their contribution goes to parks. Communities need to get rowdy and protect their parks, the legislature will not.
Talk of the "destruction" of state parks is hyperbole. Even if the state parks have to close for a couple of years--which is a stretch--the parks will still be there. Furthermore, there are several proposals out there to allow for private enterprise and nonprofits to enhance the utility of some of the state parks--bringing in more revenue per user and bringing in more users (www.aztaxpayers.org, scroll down to the AFP/Reason post on budget balancing options). Those proposals will be tough for government workers and for those who prefer the low level of visitorship currently prevailing at a lot of the parks. But for the people of the state, both as park users and as taxpayers, it's a win-win.
this is outrageous, ASP is a great agency who have been working with NO money for years; MANY people assembled these parks for future generations, it took 50 years to get where it is, closing most of the parks means the state will LOSE them forever due to various legal land contracts/exchanges in the deeds. they always found a way to continue to protect them for EVERYONE's enjoyment, it's INSANE the legislators would close something that generates for the state over 266 MILLION dollars directly and indirectly, how will that rural AZ
these republicans should be ASHAMED of themselves! this is an outrage, how about cutting some money from the GOV's Office instead?
to the poster: privatizing parks is a terrible idea, they are the public's land, i don't want a disney experience with high prices and swimming pools!
I also think it's Terrible idea to underfund this agency. AZ will be the first state without a state park system, ARIZONA is so embarrassing! Get rid of these losers at the capital. They've know about this for a year and now the deficit is getting close to 2 billion; we are now worse than CA even!!!
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