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In the June 2009 printed edition, we brought our readers information about the possibility of the state closing approximately 220 state parks. Park closures would have included Delhi’s own McConnell State recreation Area as well as Columbia State Historic Park, Railtown 1897 in Jamestown and Caswell Memorial State Park in Ripon.
Just before press time, an idea was presented that would tack on a $15 fee to vehicle registration to offset spending on the state parks. This was not approved during the July budget negotiations. However, when the state legislature passed a budget on July 24, it seemed the majority of California’s state parks would be spared. At that point no more than about 30 state parks had an uncertain future. On Tuesday, July 28, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had his chance to make some final adjustments and he did so, using his veto power. In using his blue-pencil veto authority, the Governor exacted an additional $6.2 million cut to the state park system, bringing the total General Fund cut to $14.2 million. This could mean that more than 100 state parks face closure.
No new closure list has yet been released. According to the state, they are looking into partnerships with private parties, counties and local governments to see what state parks may be spared with matched funding.
“This is a dark day in the history of California’s state park system. At a time when Californians are most in need of their low cost, accessible state parks, the gates are being slammed in their faces,” said California State Parks Foundation President Elizabeth Goldstein. “At a time when local businesses, particularly in rural communities, most rely on tourism and park visitation for their own economic stimulus, the doors are being shut to them.”
There are other major cuts being made within the state budget. Education spending will lose $9.3 billion, health and human services spending will drop by $3 billion, prison spending will drop by $785 million and state employees will see pay cuts through three furlough days a month for savings $820 million.
“In the context of an $85 billion General Fund budget, the $14.2 million in ‘savings’ that would come from closing more than 100 state parks is truly a drop in the bucket,” Goldstein went on to say. “But it’s a small drop that will have a ripple effect, then a tsunami, for park visitors and local economies.”
Once a list of park closures has been released, we will include the information on our website at DelhiExpressNews.com.
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