I learned today that 220 of the 297 State Parks in California are to be closed following Labor Day 2009. To me this is not acceptable. The State Parks' budget is less than 1% of the budget gap - .62% precisely.
Additionally it is not good fiscal policy. For every $1 spent by the State in maintaining and operating the parks, $2.35 in taxes and revenues are returned to General Fund. By saving $143 million the State stands to loss $350 million in revenue. It is this type of fiscal thinking that has brought us to this situation.
80 million people visited a California State Park last year. In addition to the fees they spent in a park, they bought gasoline, meals, souvenirs, and perhaps lodging in a nearby community.
Even if you never visit a State Park, you should fight these proposed closures because they will only creat a greater budgt gap, and the closures will increase unemployment in our State.
Please visit the California State Parks Foundation at http://www.calparks.org/ to learn what you can do . Act today, because Labor Day is only ten weeks away!
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