State tax funds now pay for less than 10% of Parks & Rec Dept. budget
State general funds for Idaho’s state Department of Parks & Recreation are down to less than 10 percent of the department’s budget, Director David Langhorst told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Thursday. “We’ve built our dedicated fund revenue streams to the point where we are stable using just about half the amount of general fund appropriation than we were before,” Langhorst said at his agency’s budget hearing before lawmakers. He said from 2009 to 2014, “We focused on boosting revenues in creative ways.” Those included new retail programs, the Parks Passport program, and new opportunities for people to enjoy state parks, from camper cabins to sandboard rentals.
“The good news is that through all of this, we did not have to close a single park,” Langhorst said.
He said the parks do have issues with deferred maintenance, and a need to invest in staff. “We’re committed to customer service in caring for Idaho’s natural, historic and recreational assets,” Langhorst said. “We love the work we do and the important places entrusted to us.”
Gov. Butch Otter’s budget proposal for the department for next year reflects a 4 percent increase in total funds to $41.2 million, but just a 0.6 percent increase in state general funds to $3.4 million. Otter is recommending all 14 of the department’s budget requests, from a $2.2 million request to build a campground at Eagle Island State Park to a $118,000 request to add the equivalent of two park rangers, one at Farragut State Park, and part-time positions at Land of the Yankee Fork, Bruneau Dunes, and Eagle Island state parks that add up to the equivalent of one more full-time position. None of the requests rely on state general funds.
Dedicated funds for the parks department come from camping and recreation fees, RV license fees, grants, sales and more.
One of the proposals, for a $50,000 study, would look toward expanding the number of boat slips at the Lucky Peak Marina at Spring Shores. There’s high demand for additional boat slips there, Langhorst said, and they’d pay for themselves in rental revenues. Another request, at $35,000, would add two emergency backup generators at Old Mission State Park in North Idaho.
