State parks may again be on the chopping block.
The state budget crisis drove additional cuts to the state parks budget before Georgia’s fiscal 2010 budget was approved Friday by the General Assembly. This leaves parks officials scrambling to figure out how to make up the difference, and they are again considering closure, privatization or other changes to park access.
The 2010 budget passed Friday cuts the state parks money by almost 40 percent, to $16.8 million from $27.4 million. The Senate budget report also includes the directive: “Pursue a strategy of self-sufficiency for all golf course, lodge and park operations.” Parks are nowhere near self-sufficient, and weaning them off state funding would be a major policy change. Although they are expected to earn about $37 million this year in fees and services, their total budget is about $70.4 million, according to the state Senate budget report.
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The state budget crisis drove additional cuts to the state parks budget before Georgia’s fiscal 2010 budget was approved Friday by the General Assembly. This leaves parks officials scrambling to figure out how to make up the difference, and they are again considering closure, privatization or other changes to park access.
The 2010 budget passed Friday cuts the state parks money by almost 40 percent, to $16.8 million from $27.4 million. The Senate budget report also includes the directive: “Pursue a strategy of self-sufficiency for all golf course, lodge and park operations.” Parks are nowhere near self-sufficient, and weaning them off state funding would be a major policy change. Although they are expected to earn about $37 million this year in fees and services, their total budget is about $70.4 million, according to the state Senate budget report.
Read more