Advocacy
WHERE DO YOUR CANDIDATES STAND ON ISSUES FACING ARIZONA STATE PARKS?
Arizona State Parks Foundation offers the following questions for you to consider as you determine which candidate will best represent your views on the issues facing Arizona State Parks:
Stable and Sustainable Funding
Arizona State Parks contribute nearly $266 million annually to Arizona's economy and additionally generate $23 million yearly in local and state taxes. The Arizona Legislature took more than $71 million this year from state parks and nearly destroyed the park system. What is your commitment to developing a sustainable funding solution for Arizona State Parks?
The Heritage Fund
Arizona State Parks' $10 million portion of The Heritage Fund was erased from statute by the last Legislature, eliminating funding for park development, open space conservation, watershed protection, historic preservation and environmental education. What is your plan to re-establish a funding source to meet these critical needs?
Privatization of Publicly Owned State Parks
Governor Brewer and many in the Arizona State Legislature intend to privatize our citizen-owned Arizona State Parks and downsize government by dismantling the Arizona State Parks agency. What is your position on the privatization/profitization of publicly owned lands and assets that were purchase with and are maintained with taxpayer dollars?
YOUR ARIZONA STATE PARK SYSTEM IS IN CRISIS!
Tell your legislators now why cuts to parks will hurt Arizona's communities & economy.
I. Slashing State Parks' funds does nothing to fix Arizona's budget woes:
In raiding and cutting State Parks funds, state legislators have succeeded in trimming a mere one percent from the state's $3
billion deficit, while deeply crippling State Parks operations. For
the current fiscal year, legislative raids on parks resources have
forced the State Parks Board to close more 2/3rds of our state parks, lay off dozens of employees, and terminate
grants critical to maintaining community parks, conservation areas and
historic sites.
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.
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 PolicyOctober 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.
- To find your legislator, visit our Who to Contact page.
- Get the latest news in our Newsroom
- Find out about Legislative raids on Heritage Funds
- See "Alerts" providing notices on breaking legislative and regulatory developments
- Visit "Impacts" giving an overview of Arizona State Parks funding, budget cuts and the impact on historic buildings, facilities and parks services.