Let’s review what will prevent State Parks closing or transfers
Some park transfers were already planned during the year 2009 but failed; for example, see Osoyoos Lake Veterans Memorial Park failed attempt to transfer to City of Oroville.
It’s not December 1st yet
But, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is busy attempting to unload State Park prior to the December 1st 2009 deadline for the State Park’s report to the Washington State Legislature.
So, where is this State Parks report?
Vehicle license renewal revenue
The 2009 Legislature established the new donation program, which began with September vehicle license tab renewals. The goal was for donations to replace $28 million of the $52 million in General Fund tax operating dollars cut from the State Parks budget. During 2009-11 Legislative budget deliberations, reductions to State Parks would have otherwise meant temporarily closing as many as 40 parks around the state. When the budget was finalized and signed in early May, the Legislature had created the new program and stipulated that all parks would remain open provided sufficient revenues are collected.1
Reports to the Legislature
One of the conditions or stipulations contained within HB 12442is this:
(3) The commission shall actively pursue transferring ownership of state parks to local governments, tribes, or other entities that have expressed an interest in operating the park. The commission shall provide biannual updates of this effort to the office of financial management and the appropriate fiscal committees of the legislature. The first report shall be submitted no later than December 1, 2009.
What we don’t know -for example
What is happening behind closed door with Brooks Memorial State Parks? Just-maybe the average Washington State ‘Taxpayer would like to know what Washington State Parks and Recreation Director knows and is doing to unload Brooks Memorial State Park?3
| Miscellaneous Reports/Comments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Adam Fahlenkamp, Park Ranger: Status of Brooks Memorial State Park with regard to State decision to transfer interest. | Attendance: Goldendale area resident and State Parks Ranger Adam Fahlenkamp and three (3) other members of the public. Adam Fahlenkamp stated that he would like Klickitat County to consider submitting a proposal to the State for the transfer of Brooks Memorial Park to the County. |
Endnotes
- Virginia Painter, Sandy Mealing, Press Releases, After one month, donation collections on track to help State Parks meet 2009-11 budget, State of Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Olympia WA), Spokane.Net, 13 Oct. 2009, available at
http://www.spokane.net/stay_connected/PressR(last visited 27 Nov. 2009). ↩
/neleases.aspx?prid=2543 - Washington State Legislative Session 2009-10, House Bill 1244, For the State Parks and Recreation Commission, (May 19, 2009) §303 (new sec.) at 109–110 available at
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/20(last visited 17 Nov. 2009). ↩
/n09-10/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/1244-
/nS.PL.pdf - Klickitat County, Board of Commissioners, Minutes, Meeting of Tuesday, October 20, 2009 available at
http://www.klickitatcounty.org/Commissioners(last visited 28 Nov. 2009). ↩
/n/agendaminutes/MinutesView.asp?fId=657&fdateFull=1
/n0/20/2009&fstrTempName=rad2CCD2&fCategoryIDSelecte
/nd=963050049
Tags: Closing parks, Legislature, State Parks, Taxpayers, Wash. Leg. Sess. 2009-10