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I'm missing the point of outlawing user fees for the state parks, unless it was pure political grandstanding (in which case, I repeat, I'm missing the point). For one thing, $25 for an annual pass sounds fairly reasonable. For another, this would involve no taxpayer burden (so conservatives should be on board) and could mean arresting the decay of some good public recreation areas (so liberals should be on board, too, even if it isn't their first choice).
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Ohio Natural Areas UNFUNDED by 2011
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Doug Z
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This Daily Kos diary blows up the issue to a larger frame:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/11/22/807111/-Its-No-*******-Wonder-that-State-Governments-Cant-Pay-Their-Bills
Snobs of the Daily Kos and lefty blogs will be surprised how well- documented the post is.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Mercurius
First Avenue
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gramarye wrote >>
I'm missing the point of outlawing user fees for the state parks, unless it was pure political grandstanding (in which case, I repeat, I'm missing the point). For one thing, $25 for an annual pass sounds fairly reasonable. For another, this would involve no taxpayer burden (so conservatives should be on board) and could mean arresting the decay of some good public recreation areas (so liberals should be on board, too, even if it isn't their first choice).I speculate the major issue is Director Logan wants to keep the parks free to the public as to not limit low income people from using them. The other problem is ODNR commissioned a study in the last General Assembly of expected revenue from a $5 per car fee at state park parking areas. This study suggested the measure would raise approximately $8 million in funds.
When you take into account:
The parks' budget has been slashed year after year since long before the state's current financial difficulties. The number of employees has been cut by one-third since 1992. A list of backlogged maintenance needs long ago topped $550 million, and a study earlier this year said that fixing it all, even over 20 years, would require $29.9 million per year.
That's on top of the $96.5 million per year the study said is necessary to properly run the parks and the other department divisions dealing with forests, natural areas and preserves, canal lands and soil and water conservation.
The actual budget last year? About $70 million.
$8 million seems woefully inadequate. None the less, I'm trying to work with Paul Wolf, president of Friends for the Preservation of Ohio State Parks, about possibly adding suggested donation pipe safes at entrances of parking areas. I suspect, if done properly, this would raise close to $5 million in funds a year?
Posted 3 years ago # -
Mercurius
First Avenue
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In the '06 budget, ODRN received a $20 million cut and had a $350 million maintenance backlog.
In June of '08, The Ohio State Park and Recreational Area Study Committee released a report explaining that ODNR state parks had over an $500 million maintenance backlog and funding needed $26.5 million higher just to sustain operations - just state parks not all of ODNR.
It was bad before Kasich got in office.
Now Kasich cuts ODNR's budget by another $50 million.
Posted 2 years ago # -
groundrules
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them parks gonna quit loafin' around, doin' nothin' all day and are gonna start earnin' their keep. hydrocarbon development to the rescue. no free lunch. drill baby drill, ohio stylee
Posted 2 years ago #
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