Parks commissioners to consider budget reduction

N.S. NOKKENTVED, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Tuesday, March 19, 2002

OLYMPIA -- The Washington Parks and Recreation Commission meets in Spokane on Thursday to consider staff recommendations for meeting a nearly $3 million budget reduction.

To meet Gov. Locke's call for a $1.2 billion state budget cut, parks commissioners will consider staff recommendations for program and personnel cuts at regional and headquarters offices and increasing camping and boat launch fees by $1, trailer dump fees by $2.

Commissioners also will consider leases at parks owned by other agencies with no available financial support. The budget passed by the Legislature, if signed by Locke, would require cancellation of leases on 13 parks.

Lake Cushman in Mason County and Ike Kinswa in Lewis County -- owned by Tacoma Power and Light -- are among 13 parks on land owned by other agencies included in the Legislature's budget cuts. Other parks are:

- Potholes and Summer Falls state parks, owned by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

- Crow Butte, Central Ferry, Chief Timothy, Maryhill and Lyons Ferry state parks and Spring Creek Hatchery, owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

- Daroga, Lincoln Rock and Wenatchee Confluence state parks, owned by Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County.

Some people, however, have suggested competitive contracts for park operation instead of closing them.

Washington Policy Center has accused Parks of ignoring such alternatives.

But the commissioners have not ignored the possibility of opening park operations to contracts, spokeswoman Virginia Painter said. The commission has tried it in the past, but took the parks back when the operation did not work out.

Commissioners would consider any feasible proposals, Painter said.

"It's definitely not out of the realm of possibilities," she said.

But problems arise with the requirement to take care of the parts of the park system that may not generate much revenue, Painter said.

N.S. Nokkentved covers the outdoors for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5445 and at nnokkent@olympia.gannett.com.

Parks cuts

- Web Information: go to www.parks.wa.gov and click the "State Parks budget cuts" link.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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