edward
02-10-2010, 04:39 PM
DISASTER FACING ARIZONA’S STATE PARKS
CRISTIE STATLER FROM ARIZONA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION
In order to achieve about $9 million in budget reductions, the state is destroying a $290 million economic engine that supports local economies (taxes, rural economic development, JOBS!) throughout Arizona. This is simply economic suicide. Nearly half of the state's 30 parks are now either closed or scheduled to close by June 3rd. Unless something changes, it's likely that the whole system will shut down before the end of 2010.
Arizona State Parks attract, when open, 2.3 million visitors annually that produce $266 million of direct and indirect economic impact in Arizona, PLUS $22.7 million in STATE and LOCAL TAXES (Source: Northern Arizona University research). Arizona State University's Morrison Institute on Public Policy has provided an analysis estimating that it costs $32 to $34 million to operate our state parks - about 1/10th of their economic contribution - and none of the operating funds come from Arizona state general fund taxes.
CRISTIE STATLER FROM ARIZONA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION
In order to achieve about $9 million in budget reductions, the state is destroying a $290 million economic engine that supports local economies (taxes, rural economic development, JOBS!) throughout Arizona. This is simply economic suicide. Nearly half of the state's 30 parks are now either closed or scheduled to close by June 3rd. Unless something changes, it's likely that the whole system will shut down before the end of 2010.
Arizona State Parks attract, when open, 2.3 million visitors annually that produce $266 million of direct and indirect economic impact in Arizona, PLUS $22.7 million in STATE and LOCAL TAXES (Source: Northern Arizona University research). Arizona State University's Morrison Institute on Public Policy has provided an analysis estimating that it costs $32 to $34 million to operate our state parks - about 1/10th of their economic contribution - and none of the operating funds come from Arizona state general fund taxes.