Arizona State Parks: Press Room

ARIZONA STATE PARKS: For Immediate Release
Managing and conserving Arizona’s natural, cultural and recreational resources for the benefit of the people, both in our Parks and through our Partners. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Bilbrey at (602) 542-1996 or (602) 228-8518. Contact by Email: pio(at)azstateparks.gov

Watch ASP Director Renée Bahl discuss budget situation: Watch Video

Arizona State Parks Department Adopts a Reduced Operating Budget for 2010

Executive Staff presented the Arizona State Parks Board current information about the reduced operating budget. This chart shows Operating Expenditures by Program: including Parks (67%), Administration (23%), and Partnerships (10%). Download Budget Presentation below.

(Phoenix, AZ - August 3, 2009) - According to State Parks Board Chair Reese Woodling, "Today the Board approved the 2010 operating budget down from $26 million to $19.3 million. All of that money now is coming from conservation taxes and park-earned monies with none from the state's General Fund budget. This is not a sustainable budget to keep the parks and programs operating, so we have hard decisions about how to fund each one."

"This $19M is also contingent on the enactment of the Budget Reconciliation Bill which would authorize the agency to use certain special funds for normal operating. Heritage Fund grants were recommended to be reinstated, but that is also contingent upon a favorable Joint Legislative Budget Committee review to allow internal fund transfers," said Woodling.

"Now our staff will be looking for all different types of partners to keep the parks open in these rural communities. In September our staff will be presenting scenarios for salvaging the State Parks and programs. We will have to drastically reduce our expenses to meet the extremely low budget presented today," said Renée Bahl, the State Parks Executive Director.

The next meeting for the State Parks Board will be Friday, September 11 at the City of Peoria. For more information call (602) 542-4174 or visit http://azstateparks.com/board

For more information about the 30 State Parks, statewide hiking opportunities, off-highway vehicle trails, and other outdoor recreational and cultural opportunities in Arizona, call (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703) or visit AZStateParks.com. Follow us on twitter.com/AZStateParks.

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Download Budget Presentation ( 132 KB PDF)
17-page presentation shows staff recommendations.

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link to this page:
http://azstateparks.com/press/2009/PR_08-03-09.html

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