State Parks

[Tortoise_Hiker]

"Say it aint so Joe" Is it true that the State budget cuts include closing FIVE State Parks?

[Jeffshadows]

Attached is a pie chart of the major areas of AZ state spending in FY09. Notice that health care is almost 40% of the budget. Nearly $7.6B a year. Here's an idea...for all of us responsible individuals who carry health insurance our taxes don't change. For all AZ citizens who use ACCCHS or had no health insurance for more than six months out of the tax year, a whopping 1.2 million people, you pay an additional penalty at the end of the year on your taxes. If every one of those who fell into the latter category paid $64, or lost $64 in deductions, the state would no longer have to float their medical bills and we would suddenly have a nearly 40% budget surplus.

What the state decided to cut is interesting, too. Here's a few tidbits...

-School districts will lose $21M but charter schools only lose $4M. My sister taught at a charter school for one semester before she became a whistle-blower. They're huge cash cows and one of the senior-most members of the state appropriations committee owns a bunch of them...hmmm.

-State Lands -> moving $3M out of their fire suppression fund to cover operating costs. How about making those who profit from these lands actually pay what they're worth? What a novel concept!

-State Parks -> losing $0.5M from Land Conservation Fund to go to operating costs and now they must reimburse any contractor costs incurred before 01 FEB 09 immediately. Way to look out for your friends!! What if the work they did was sub-standard? What if they have not finished the project? The rich always get theirs...

-5-year Vehicle Registration: Oh, great! What a good idea! Now that jalopy that smokes its way across Tucson will only have to go and be rigged to pass emissions once every five years. So much for clean air.

[JimmyLyding]

Blame the legislature, and blame those who voted for the cretins who currently control our legislature. Brewer's going to be nothing more than a rubber stamp for the 40 Dwarves.

[chumley]

I have a feeling that if Napolitano hadn't left, we wouldn't be going thru these cuts...

I have a feeling that if Napolitano had been offered a job cutting the White House lawn, she would have jumped at the offer. This budget thing has been looming, and she's perfectly happy getting out and letting anybody else deal with it.

Fact is, inflation rises at a couple of percent a year, and still the state spending rises at an exponentially higher rate. Napolitano instituted "all-day kindergarten" which is nothing more that state-funded day-care. Its very nice if you and your spouse work, and have children to care for, but one wonders if we could afford it. Same goes for ASU's exponential "conquer the world" growth plan.

The pie chart is a nice illustration to look at. Unfortunately, that health cost can't be cut. Neither can pensions or welfare. That doesn't leave a lot of places to cut! Education and Transportation are the two biggest ones, and then there that "Other" category that certainly includes State Parks. (And Jeff, I sort of like the idea of raising taxes on state employees who use the ACCCHS, but that's not really how our tax system has ever worked. E.g. I don't have kids, and I ride a bike. Why do I have to pay property taxes that build schools and roads? Because, that's the way it is.)

The people have passed a variety of propositions over the years that don't allow changes to funding of certain programs. This is the downfall of the proposition system. The general population votes on an emotional issue without knowing the actual ramifications of their choices.

I don't know how it will be split up, but ASU has lost more than 35% of its state funding for FY09 in the past couple of months, or about $70 million. The proposed spending cut for the FY10 budget for ASU alone is an additional $155 million. If a similar percentage holds true for other state agencies, you might see the closure of all but Slide Rock and Havasu. Basically, next year will need to see twice the cuts we've seen this year in order to balance the budget.

The state is currently counting on the Obama administration's federal stimulus package to help ease the strain on the state budget, but so far it looks like that plan will invest funds in primarily job-creation activities , e.g. "new" programs ... NOT on retaining existing programs and their associated jobs. But the stimulus bill isn't complete yet, so we can't yet be sure how it turns out.

Either way, the state is in a world of hurt, and both parties are to blame. Congressional leadership and the Governor's office for at least the last decade have put us on the road we're on now. If I were Napolitano, I'd have jumped ship too. Its the best career move she ever made.

[Jeffshadows]

We have long gone astray of personal responsibility, I really think this is the bottom line. Give me a mortgage I can never afford and let me run up debt buying 80" plasma TVs and then give me a check to pay it off when I blow my income on beer and strippers instead of paying my bills. The same thing is happening in the capitol...we're putting all of these bills on the credit card of expected revenue from huge growth (That no AZ native is in favor of) and now want to rear-end the little people and bail our buddies out when it all goes south and the bill comes due. We live in a country where we all desperately want to be free to make any kind of choice imaginable, but then never want to be held accountable for those choices.

[JimmyLyding]

This state has relied upon tourism, construction, and low-wage service jobs to form the backbone of our economy for far too long. We are currently reaping what we have sown. Our fair state has failed to make tough choices in the past, and now we have to rely on anti-education and anti-environment politicians to make choices that will help move us forward. Don't count on it. Just wait until the "we need to cut taxes" drumbeat begins.
We have a fiscal deficit. "Cutting taxes will help."
We're fighting 2 different wars. "We need to cut taxes."
Martians are invading. "Cutting taxes is our best defense."

[chumley]

We have long gone astray of personal responsibility, I really think this is the bottom line. Give me a mortgage I can never afford and let me run up debt buying 80" plasma TVs and then give me a check to pay it off when I blow my income on beer and strippers instead of paying my bills. The same thing is happening in the capitol...we're putting all of these bills on the credit card of expected revenue from huge growth (That no AZ native is in favor of) and now want to rear-end the little people and bail our buddies out when it all goes south and the bill comes due. We live in a country where we all desperately want to be free to make any kind of choice imaginable, but then never want to be held accountable for those choices.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

In a related note, I saw a clip of a commentator yesterday talking about the recession and hearing people say things like "we've never seen it this bad". His perspective was that the younger generations have never seen it this bad, but those who have read a history book know that there were times when Americans waited in line to buy BREAD! Today, Americans are still waiting in line to buy iPhones! Are things great? No. Are they bad? Maybe. It really does depend on your perspective though.

[te_wa]

dont worry guys and gals, it will all be over soon. and then we get to live in our tents! full time!

[dysfunction]

We have long gone astray of personal responsibility, I really think this is the bottom line. Give me a mortgage I can never afford and let me run up debt buying 80" plasma TVs and then give me a check to pay it off when I blow my income on beer and strippers instead of paying my bills. The same thing is happening in the capitol...we're putting all of these bills on the credit card of expected revenue from huge growth (That no AZ native is in favor of) and now want to rear-end the little people and bail our buddies out when it all goes south and the bill comes due. We live in a country where we all desperately want to be free to make any kind of choice imaginable, but then never want to be held accountable for those choices.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

In a related note, I saw a clip of a commentator yesterday talking about the recession and hearing people say things like "we've never seen it this bad". His perspective was that the younger generations have never seen it this bad, but those who have read a history book know that there were times when Americans waited in line to buy BREAD! Today, Americans are still waiting in line to buy iPhones! Are things great? No. Are they bad? Maybe. It really does depend on your perspective though.

Certainly continuing to support 'the sky is falling' mentality is not going to help when economies are fundamentally run on trust. Trust on the side of the consumer and the businesses. Then again, we have businesses clearly taking advantage of the current situation to furlough jobs in the US and move them offshore. It's an interesting conglomeration of selfishness converging.

[hikeaz]

As its a closely related subject.......Rather than start a new thread, I thought that I'd add this here. But if an administrator and/or Joe wishes a new thread, feel free to move it.....

Get passionate about your County parks!

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and Parks and Recreation Department have been planning for the future of your County parks! After months of hard work, the department is ready to unveil the proposed System Strategic Master Plan to the community for feedback. If you're a visionary who would like to provide input on the proposed future of the County’s park system, then we want to hear from you.
Parks has scheduled five public forums around the Valley. The sessions will begin with a presentation on the proposed future of the park system followed by a question and answer session. Staff will be on hand to field questions and collect feedback. Bring your wisdom and expertise to a location near you!

District 1

Tuesday, February 24 • 6 - 8 p.m.

Maricopa County

Southeast Regional Library

775 N. Greenfield Rd.

Gilbert, AZ 85234



District 2

Wednesday, February 18 • 6 - 8 p.m.

Desert Foothills Library

Conference Room

38443 N. Schoolhouse Rd.

Cave Creek, AZ 85331



District 3

Thursday, February 19 • 6 - 8 p.m.

Paradise Valley Community College

Meeting Rm. KSC 212

18401 N. 32nd Street

Phoenix, AZ 85032



District 4

Tuesday, February 17 • 6 - 8 p.m.

Surprise Community Center

Multi-Purpose Room

15832 N. Hollyhock St.

Surprise, AZ 85374



District 5

Wednesday, February 25 • 6 - 8 p.m.

Estrella Mountain Regional Park

Nature Center

14805 W. Vineyard Avenue

Goodyear, AZ 85338

[azdesertfather]

WHY doesn't this surprise me??!!

State parks director received 11% raise
State agency faces budget woes, layoffs
The Arizona Republic

As the Arizona State Parks Board was entering the budget crisis that threatens to close eight parks and cause dozens of layoffs, the board gave its director an 11 percent raise.

Ken Travous, who has worked for the board since 1986, saw his salary increase in November by more than $14,000, to $142,811. The move was made retroactive to July 1 to ensure Travous receives increased benefits when he retires June 30.

The news has rankled some parks employees, who are bracing for possible layoffs when the board considers closing parks later this month. Most state employees received raises of 2 percent or less during the past four years.

[Tortoise_Hiker]

[chumley]

Just read that three more are on the block:
Red Rock in Sedona
Tonto Natural Bridge near Payson
Jerome State Historic Park
These are not the "next three" in order of visitation, so perhaps there's a little bit of political pressure-play with the selections?

Three more state parks are being considered for closure because of state budget cuts, bringing to 11 the number that could be shuttered in coming weeks.

Parks Director Ken Travous told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he is adding the three additional parks to a list of eight others previously identified as being considered for closure.

Travous identified the three as Red Rock State Park in Sedona, Jerome State Historic Park in Jerome and Tonto National Bridge State Park near Payson.

Jerome State Historic Park centers on the Douglas Mansion, a landmark built in the former mining community that overlooks the Verde Valley. Red Rock State Park, originally part of a ranch, is a 286-acre nature preserve and environmental education center. Tonto Bridge is a natural geological feature located in a valley in pine country below the Mogollon Rim.

The state Parks Board will meet Friday in Peoria to consider cost-cutting measures that include park closures, seasonal closures and reduced hours of operations. Other options include grant cancellations, shifting expenses to other accounts and layoffs and unpaid time off for employees.

The board on Feb. 3 declined to take immediate action on park closures but voted to have Travous' department proceed with planning possible economy moves, including alternatives to closures.

Travous said he has already effectively laid off approximately 65 seasonal employees, including some who had been slated to go on the payroll but now will not.

Parks previously identified as being considered for closure were: Fort Verde State Historic Park in Camp Verde, Homolovi Ruins State Park in Winslow, Lyman Lake State Park in Springerville, McFarland State Historic Park in Florence, Oracle State Park in Oracle, Riordan Mansion State Historic Park in Flagstaff, Tubac Presidio State Historic Park in Tubac and Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park.

Travous said those were chosen for possible closure because of low visitation rates.

So, now its:
Alamo Lake 64,885
Boyce Thompson 73,174
Buckskin Mountain 93,709
Catalina 168,874
Cattail Cove 94,179
Dead Horse Ranch 133,822
Fool Hollow Lake 110,741
Fort Verde 15,992
Homolovi 15,200
Jerome 60,114
Kartchner 160,013
Lake Havasu 248,851
Lost Dutchman 100,424
Lyman Lake 42,018
McFarland 4,945
Oracle 9,898
Patagonia Lake 178,505
Picacho Peak 98,565
Red Rock 79,617
Riordan Mansion 26,209
Roper Lake 85,939
Slide Rock 249,759
Tombstone 52,588
Tonto Natural Bridge 87,930
Tubac Presidio 12,835
Yuma Crossing 11,676
Yuma Prison 67,851

[Jeffshadows]

Red Rock and Jerome??!! Oh man!! This is getting worse by the minute...

[azdesertfather]

this is ridiculous, is what it is...

[writelots]

I wonder if threatening to close the "higher profile" parks was a move to gain more public attention/outcry and bring the Board to look at other alternatives...

[azdesertfather]

ATTENTION...anyone who can represent our feelings in the HAZ community!

The meeting to decide the fates of these parks is this Friday in Peoria, 10 am. Comment or show up, show support for our parks!

If you can't make it, please send a response online with the State Parks right away by going to azstateparks, clicking on the Contact Us button, and then going to the bottom of the page and clicking the link for Online Contact Form / Submit a comment or question online.

[Jeffshadows]

One of the things I hate about this whole economic issue is the fact that our legislature is largely ignoring us. They clearly don't feel imperiled by our discontent in any way. This is a slippery slope...very slippery.

[PaleoRob]

I'll be sending in more comments between now and Friday too. Hopefully they'll pay attention, but I doubt it. No lawmaker I have ever written to has ever gotten back to me.

[Jeffshadows]

I'll be sending in more comments between now and Friday too. Hopefully they'll pay attention, but I doubt it. No lawmaker I have ever written to has ever gotten back to me.

I wrote to my rep when they were going through the whole budget fiasco in the House and asked her to just raise my taxes and get it over with so we wouldn't have more jobless/homeless/uninsured among us. She actually wrote back and let me know that she agreed, but the rest of the House wouldn't hear it...

[PaleoRob]

I'll be sending in more comments between now and Friday too. Hopefully they'll pay attention, but I doubt it. No lawmaker I have ever written to has ever gotten back to me.

I wrote to my rep when they were going through the whole budget fiasco in the House and asked her to just raise my taxes and get it over with so we wouldn't have more jobless/homeless/uninsured among us. She actually wrote back and let me know that she agreed, but the rest of the House wouldn't hear it...

Glad to hear that at least someone is out there paying attention then...