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desertcpl
Super Nomad
Posts: 2396
Registered: 10-26-2008
Location: yuma,az
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here in Yuma,, the state was going to shut down the Yuma Territorial prison and the Yuma Quartermaster Depot,,
Yuma stepped in and took it over, they did fund raisers and promoted other events to keep them open, also moved one of their offices like the Tourist
center in the Quartermaster depot, I know Yuma didnt have any extra money like most Cities, I dont know really how they are doing, but they are still
open and I havnt heard that are having a hard time making it
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Jo Jo Jo
| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGringo
You really don't believe that there is enough excess fat in government that could be cut from needless / redundant services to cover the costs of
keeping the parks open??? |
So, for just how many years, and by how many so-called do-gooder candidates have we heard about cutting waste and duplication will solve the budget
problem?
I dunno, but be they Dems or the GOP, just seems to me that once they get intimate with the situation, they find little more than chump change as far
as waste and duplication.
It's been going on for decades now. It that was the answer, one would think the problem would have been solved by now.
It makes for a great sound bite during an election campaign, but at the end of the day, it doesn't work.
As I mentioned earlier, people demand services. They just don't want to pay for them.
And something that most folks don't realize it thatcompared to say 1960, government is actually more efficiently funded as a percentage of revenue.
There's this little issue about population growth outstripping the capacity of the infrastructure, for instance.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by soulpatch
Actually they won't Dennis. Spoke recently to a regional State Parks director and he said they have had their budget cut about 27% and they will have
about 5 guys to "monitor" the closed parks for the entire state. He says the facilities should be vandalized and ruined completely soon enough,
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In that case, I suppose the parks will turn into dope farms soon enough.
There's no getting ahead of the negatives, is there.
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BajaBlanca
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Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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it is a bloody shame to close state parks ....
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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This could have been avoided if the populace would have voted for the meager $18 surcharge on vehicle registration via the State Parks and Wildlife
Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010. It currently costs about half that amount for a day parking pass. If that measure would have passed, the parks
would have been okay and California residents (with a car) would have unlimited access.
But nope, no new taxes and now people are whining about the parks closing.
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BajaBruno
Super Nomad
Posts: 1035
Registered: 9-6-2006
Location: Back in CA
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Mood: Happy
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Irresponsible voters need to take a big chunk of the blame for the fiscal condition of California. For many years voters rubber-stamped general
obligation bonds for innumerable feel-good projects of dubious need. As a result, the current Natural Resources Agency budget includes:
$976.6 million for debt service costs on various natural resources general obligation bonds.
$685.1 million for CAL FIRE to provide fire protection services in wildland areas of the state.
$119.0 million for Parks to operate the state park system.
That is only part of the Department of Parks and Recreation budget, which is actually $682 million this year – the rest comes from other tax sources.
Parks and Recreation is reported to suffer a $11 million budget reduction this year, which hardly justifies these drastic measures, but that tells
only part of the story. Last year’s budget gave Parks $877 million – a big change from the current year; however, 2009-10 budget was only $406.6
million, so by that measure, spending this year has increased 40% over the last 2 years. The current budget does not explain that difference, but
debt service may play a significant role.
Christopher Bruno, Elk Grove, CA.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18398
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBruno
Irresponsible voters need to take a big chunk of the blame for the fiscal condition of California. |
tax revenues are down nationwide because GWB was not regulating wall street and banks,... and the economy melted down due to housing bust.
don't blame the voters. tax revenues rise and fall, and cost of govt stays same.
p.s. man of the closed parks are little used holes in the wall. not sure they are worth keeping open even if gwb had never wrecked our economy and
govt were flush with money
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oxxo
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Registered: 5-17-2006
Location: Wherever I am, I'm there
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Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by comitan
You think your not paying enough when they charge as much as private RV parks. |
Then why the angst over closing State parks? If private RV parks can operate for the same overnight rate (and make a profit) then why keep State
parks open? Just stay at a private RV park. It makes sense to me.
If what you say is true, then I support the State getting out of the RV campsite business.
[Edited on 5-16-2011 by oxxo]
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BajaGringo
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| Quote: | Originally posted by oxxo
| Quote: | Originally posted by comitan
You think your not paying enough when they charge as much as private RV parks. |
Then why the angst over closing State parks? If private RV parks can operate for the same overnight rate (and make a profit) then why keep State
parks open? Just stay at a private RV park. It makes sense to me.
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Or maybe the state should consider leasing out the parks to private operators...
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tripledigitken
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Registered: 9-27-2006
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The Federal Government is doing that to some degree.
Zanterra is a private operation running the concessions at Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Mount Rushmore, and many more national and state
parks.
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
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Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGringo
| Quote: | Originally posted by oxxo
| Quote: | Originally posted by comitan
You think your not paying enough when they charge as much as private RV parks. |
Then why the angst over closing State parks? If private RV parks can operate for the same overnight rate (and make a profit) then why keep State
parks open? Just stay at a private RV park. It makes sense to me.
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Or maybe the state should consider leasing out the parks to private operators... |
Interesting points, indeed. Just 2 days ago, I checked California's State Park accommodations at Patcick's Point campground. The rate for a campsite
with no hookups was $45.
Within 5 miles and with the same or beautiful views, there were 3 other private parks with full-hookups ranging from $27-$35. I decided to stay at
Stone Lagoon. $27 full hookups with elk herd and lagoon view.
The rates at Cal. State Beach Campgrounds are higher than a lot of private parks nowadays.... when not so long ago, it was the opposite.
p.s. The state parks are still my favorite, though...for thier natural settings.
[Edited on 5-16-2011 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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wilderone
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Registered: 2-9-2004
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"...then why keep State parks open?"
Not all state parks have a campground component - most have historical significance - looks like a park, with a restroom and a parking lot, some with
a souvenir shop and museum, etc. Forget the list of closed state park campgrounds and switch to BLM land, federal monuments and national parks. I
went to Bandolier Natl. Monument last summer and it was staffed with 4 volunteers. Effective enough. They have those "camp host" staffers living at
other federal park campgrounds - I don't think they get paid near what a state Park Ranger II (or whatever the position is) plus benefits, possibly
overtime. I think each manager/supervisor of each state park should have a list of considerations provided to use to cut down their cost of operation
by - say 30%, so everything can stay open. I wouldn't complain if one restroom of two was closed. I wouldn't complain if there were porta-potties
provided and maintained a by local company instead of a restroom. $2.00 entrance fee instead of free -including entire classes of children - each
person pays - no busloads for the cost of a $5 parking pass. The users should pay. Half the staff volunteers? No overtime. Early close time; lease
15'x15' of the parking lot to a concessionaire with a trailer; cut down on grass and landscape maintenance - have it done by contractor via low-bid
process.
So they're going to close all these state parks, and lay off the employees? Who will get the jobs when the park re-opens? Same high-paid park
rangers? Same problem - no solution. The Dept. of Parks and Recreation administrative staff should be shaved and analyzed as well. Could one $75,000
admin employee keep 3 parks open staffed with volunteers? Making broad-brush closures tells me the Dept. of Parks & Rec. didn't do much work to
find ways to keep them open.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Conservation camp inmates
or county jail low risk inmates.......Have em work off their sentence by doing maintenance and landscaping when not fighting fires or assisting with
floods. Use volunteers and trade camping space for campground host duties......overseen by minimal staff of paid state employees.....use the local
sheriff's office or police department to make drive throughs....develop an "adopt a park" program for local businesses or civic groups.
There are plenty of ways to keep the parks open, gotta think outside of the box........however, the elected officials and bureaucrats want to build
and maintain empires........
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
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Mood: mellow
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Such good ideas.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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preston
Nomad
Posts: 159
Registered: 2-3-2005
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Three words:
CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT PENSIONS
Google "California government pension problems".
The only solution is a massive sale of state assets or bankruptcy. I support both.
You cannot tax your way out of a spending problem ... just ask Greece.
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preston
Nomad
Posts: 159
Registered: 2-3-2005
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Remember when lifeguarding was a summer job? I did it for 2 years for a cool $3 per hour when the going teen labor rate was about $2.25 per hour.
Here is what these "professionals" are now paid:
http://www.redstate.com/moe_lane/2011/05/11/california-lifeg...
How about lay off 1,000 of these guys (and gals) to fund the state parks? Ooops ... how many state park employees are paid a similar amount?
Lifeguarding is a $15 per hour job ... not a $50 per hour job ... WITH A PENSION PLAN!!!!!
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J.P.
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Location: Punta Banda
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Most California state camp grounds use host that are usually retired people that recive no salry and are required to work 20 hrs a week greeting
people and getting them parked, In exchange for your parking and hook ups.I checked into it and at the time they wanted you to commit to a 6mos time I
didnt want to stay for 6mos so i dropped it.
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Jim/Liisa
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Posts: 192
Registered: 2-5-2011
Location: San Felipe (South Campos)
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| Quote: | Originally posted by comitan
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
why are these parks closing? |
This I agree !!!
Just another scam by government........they want to close parks "for lack of funds"........people will scream.......then agree to a bond initiative or
increased taxes to keep the parks open.......... |
[Edited on 5-14-2011 by comitan] |
It's State parks there talking about. they always charged too much in the first place California State parks. California has to do something or it
will surley go bankrupt. No I didn't vote for the guy, actualy didn't vote for any of them, none where worth a sh!t.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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What would Ansel Adams have to say in this thread? I'll bet it wouldn't be very nice.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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To Some Degree
| Quote: | Originally posted by tripledigitken
The Federal Government is doing that to some degree.
Zanterra is a private operation running the concessions at Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Mount Rushmore, and many more national and state
parks. |
Zanterra is fundamentally the successor to the old Fred Harvey outfit.
In my opinion, the significant difference between the Zanaterra operation and what might be done, if anything, to privatize the California State Parks
operation is that by and large, Zanterra/ Fred Harvey operated hotels, restaurants and stores. Big opportunity for profit. In major attractions.
Many of the California parks host only campgrounds. I just think that offering to privatize campsite operations does not have the potential to attract
a corporate operator.
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