Idaho Parks First To Feel Lawmakers’ Budget Ax Panel Uses Cutbacks In Projects, Shifts Of Fees To Trim $385,000

Idaho’s park system was the first to feel the next phase of legislative leaders’ scheme to dramatically reduce general tax spending as budget writers on Friday trimmed $385,000 from parks and recreation.

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee used a combination of actual cuts and shifts of money from park fees to limit 1998 general tax support for the Parks and Recreation Department.

The department traditionally has been a budgeting stepchild to lawmakers.

In keeping with the leadership blueprint to eliminate cash for employee pay raises and make other cuts in Gov. Phil Batt’s already tight budget, the panel cut tens of thousands of dollars for maintaining and improving parks.

The committee also replaced hundreds of thousands more for projects that cannot be ignored with cash earmarked for pay raises and proceeds from higher park fees.

“This budget has been very tight,” admitted House Appropriations Vice Chairman Maxine Bell, R-Jerome. “We’ve left victims all over the state.”

Leaders of both houses have been pushing for significant reductions in Batt’s budget, primarily because they are concerned that tax revenues to pay the bill will not be as strong as the governor needs to stay in the black.

But they have refused to officially lower the revenue projection, opting instead to abandon their traditional approach of spending every last dime of revenue expected, then having to scramble when the economic forecast is off. Even a fraction of a percentage point departure totals million of dollars when revenue is forecast at nearly $1.5 billion.

While there has been little debate over the leadership scheme to cut $10 million from Batt’s budget, there appeared to be a major disagreement brewing between the House and Senate over slashing Batt’s public school aid proposal of $705 million.

Some House leaders believe even something that has been as politically sacred as that spending bill should be reduced, possibly by as much as the $9.6 million Batt wanted to increase the statewide teacher salary guidelines by 1.5 percent.

But a large number of senators reportedly are committed to hold the line on $705 million. Many recall the political problems created for the GOP in the 1980s when the Legislature tried to reduce that budget by even a few million dollars.

The largest piece of the parks budget to be slashed was $100,000 to build a house for the ranger at the Spring Shores Marina at Lucky Peak Reservoir outside Boise.

Republican Sen. Dean Cameron of Rupert said that since the ranger is not married, he probably could live in an apartment above the marina offices and refreshment stand.

“In this tight budget year, they could probably get by with him living up there above the snack bar,” Cameron said.