California may not save money by closing state parks

Business groups are questioning how much California will save by closing the state's parks.

Two Lake Tahoe business groups asked how California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger determined that the state would save millions of dollars in state general funds through his plan to close some 80 percent of California's state parks.

In a letter to the governor, the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce and North Lake Tahoe Resort Association asked for detailed information to support the governor's claim that the state could save $143 million by closing 220 state parks immediately following this year's Labor Day weekend.

"We have serious doubts that the state would actually save the money the governor has claimed," said Steve Teshara, chamber executive director and resort association chief executive officer. "We are concerned that this is worse than fuzzy math, it is political math."

Teshara said his organizations want the governor to provide detailed information about the cost of closing parks and the cost of repairing environmental, physical damage likely to occur at parks, which are closed. "It will be very difficult to prevent the public from accessing many state parks, even if they are closed," said Teshara.

He cited the state nine parks in the Lake Tahoe-Truckee area as examples.

"These are typically large areas of land with many access points. You can't just close a gate and expect to deny the public's right to enter park property. Unfortunately, but realistically, there is likely to be environmental damage and damage to facilities if there

are no state parks employees on duty." Teshara said. "The damage could include the more serious crime of removing historical and cultural artifacts. We believe the governor's plan is ill-advised and that his claim of savings is simply not accurate."

A recent report by the California State University, Sacramento found that park users, on average, spent $57.63 per visit. Across the state, this amounts to more than $4.2 billion in positive economic impacts - impacts that would be lost if state parks are closed under the governor's May Revise proposal.

"The state parks in our Tahoe-Truckee region generate more than $9.5 million in visitor spending each year," said Teshara. Teshara added that most state parks are lands that the public has entrusted to the state to manager with care and appropriate stewardship. "California clearly needs, jobs, tourism and other revenues to help reverse our economic decline," said Teshara. "The state also needs to live up to its steward responsibilities. The governor's plan makes no sense. We urge both Republicans and Democrats to reject the parks closure plan."