II. State Parks is financed mainly through fee-generated income, not tax dollars:
The
53-year-old State Parks system is funded mainly through a combination
of parks entry fees, special outdoor user fees, gift-shop sales and a
voter-approved share of State Lottery revenues. In
past years,
State Parks has earned about $8 million a year from entry-fees, and has
received an equal amount in state general fund support.
This chart, however, illustrates the deterioration of support from the General Fund. Additionally, over the last 18 months, the Legislature has confiscated more than $53.8 million in State
Parks' fee-generated income plus other funds critical to the operations
of our parks, more than it takes to operate the entire park system for the same time period. The Legislature has left the agency incapable of
meeting demands of more than 2 million annual park visitors. This action has led to closure and planned closure of more than 2/3rds of the parks in YOUR state park system.
III. State Parks pumps substantial amounts of tourism money into local economies:
The
2.2 million visitors who pass annually through Arizona's system of 27
parks, historic sites and natural areas spend more than $266 million a
year on parks-related activities in nearby communities, according to
studies by Northern Arizona University's school of business. Studies
show that out-of-state tourists provide about half of these
expenditures, translating into an infusion of $100 million annually
into Arizona. Additionally, $22.7 million in state and local taxes are generated by park visitors. Such money is critical to Arizona's economy, especially
in a time of deep recession.
IV. State Parks serves growing needs for recreation, cultural sites and natural-areas:
Despite
recession, the continued influx of new residents into the state is
putting increased pressures on our heavily-used, but poorly funded
state parks system. Over the past 10 years, millions of people annually have sought access to state park lakes and riverside campgrounds at Lake Havasu,
Patagonia and Alamo lakes; scenic hiking and birding at Red Rock State
Park , Sonoita Creek Natural Area and the Verde River Greenway; historic sites like Riordan Mansion,
Tombstone Courthouse and Tubac Presidio; and spectacular places like
Kartchner Caverns, Tonto Natural Bridge and Slide Rock state parks.
Funding cuts that threaten such places will make Arizona far poorer for
its residents, weaker for tourism and less competitive.
Link here to Arizona State University's Morrison Institute for Public Policy
October 2009
"The Price of Stewardship: The Future of Arizona's State Parks"This report lists the dangers facing Arizona's 31 state parks, in light of continued population growth and budget cuts. It also offers solutions to the funding crisis, including potential revenue options to provide stable, sustainable funding for Arizona's state parks.