Governor candidates fuzzy on state park funding

OLYMPIA -- When it comes to the state's cherished park system, the two men vying to be Washington's next governor are of the same opinion -- it needs public funding.

They're just not sure on how much money to commit.

Republican Rob McKenna and Democrat Jay Inslee each said this week their first budget would provide taxpayer dollars to operate and maintain the system, which will celebrate its 100th birthday next year.

But neither candidate is ready to endorse the full $18 million sought by the state Parks and Recreation Commission to ensure all facilities stay open through mid-2015.

"They're asking for 18 (million). I don't know if we can do 18," McKenna said.

Inslee said he's not decided on a figure "but something in that realm is a realistic approach."

Each said at a minimum they want to cover the cost to the agency of exempting thousands of residents, including low-income seniors and disabled veterans, from having to buy a Discover Pass in order to drive their vehicle into a park. The estimated tab for the exemption is $8 million over two years.

"We're going to keep some funding in the general fund for parks," McKenna said. "I don't know the exact amount but a good starting point is to cover exemptions."

Washington is home to 117 developed parks plus a bevy of heritage sites, historic buildings and geologic treasures. Among them are state parks at Cama Beach in Island County, and Wallace Falls near Gold Bar, and the Big Four Ice Caves near Darrington.

Right now, the system is in the midst of the most fundamental change in its history.

As tax collections tumbled in the recession, lawmakers trimmed spending in most corners of government. They've pared funding for parks from $94 million in the 2007-09 budget to $17 million in the current one which runs through next June.

Since July 1, 2011, most visitors to a state park must display a Discover Pass in their vehicle. They cost $10 for a day pass or $30 for a year of entries. The revenue is split among state parks, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Fish and Wildlife with the parks getting the largest share.

The money is used to offset the effect of budget cuts which have led to layoffs, converting rangers from full-time to seasonal workers, and giving away parks. Snohomish County, for example, took control of Wenberg State Park in 2009.

Some legislators think parks should be able to survive without public funding by bringing in more dollars from user fees, like the Discover Pass, and private sources. Earlier this year, the Legislature directed the agency to figure out if and when the tether to the taxpayer could be severed.

What commissioners found -- and laid out in a 37-page report approved last week -- is the goal of self-sufficiency cannot be accomplished soon. The main reason is sales of the Discover Pass are producing only half as much money as expected. Moreover, initiatives to generate revenue in other ways, such as advertising and sponsorships in parks, need more incubation time to see if they're capable of filling the budget gap.

Regardless, commissioners don't think the system should be completely cut off because they are a state-owned asset which every resident has a stake in protecting.

"The goal of 100 percent operational self-support is impractical," their report concludes. "A stable and durable self-supporting state park system is unprecedented and, in the commission's view, unachievable."

They said they could find no example of a federal, state or local park and recreation agency supporting itself completely through fees for services and donations.

"That report is our guide to legislators. It spells out where we were, where we're at and where we're headed," state parks director Don Hoch said.

The requested money, he said, will keep the agency limping along. Without it, the parks and buildings could deteriorate and disappear.

Without plans of their own, McKenna and Inslee are embracing the report as a blueprint for addressing the parks' fiscal problems.

Both applauded efforts of the parks employees to respond to the pressures brought on by cuts in funding and demands to discover new streams of revenue and greater sales of the Discover Pass.

"They're obviously working hard to meet the realities of the budget cuts," McKenna said.

He endorsed the report's recommendations for giving the commission more authority to permit advertising on park lands, sign longer leases with concessionaires and use proceeds from private sources to pay for staffing. He also wants the role of the State Parks Foundation in fundraising strengthened.

Inslee praised the efforts and creativity of agency workers, lauding the variety of money-raising ideas under consideration. He also cautioned against pursuing any that might damage a park's character or physical assets.

The goals "can't be fulfilled by just turning these (parks) into Disneyland-like revenue producing assets," he said.

"The question is, is there some more permanent fix for state parks? I don't have one right now," he said. "The order of the day is we keep our parks open."

Jerry Cornfield: jcornfield@heraldnet.com; 360-352-8623.