Letter To Governor Kaine - July 17, 2009

The Honorable Timothy M. Kaine
P.O. Box 1475
Richmond, VA 23218

Dear Governor Kaine:

We are fully aware of the difficult economic situation that exists and the adverse impact of that situation on the state budget. We are also aware that you will have to make some very hard decisions regarding the imposition of budget cuts on state agencies.

We respectfully ask that, when you make those decisions, you keep in mind the fact that some agency divisions stimulate the state and local economies and that cutting their budgets will actually worsen the overall economic picture.

For example, for Fiscal Year 2009, the Virginia State Park System received about $17.6 million in appropriations from the General Fund. In Calendar Year 2008, the overall state and local economic impact generated by the state parks, based on conservative estimates, totaled about $170 million. Simply put, the Commonwealth, by investing less than $18 million in the state park system, gets an economic return of $170 million.

It's important here to note that the park system was cut more that $2.1 million in Fiscal Year 2008. While the General Assembly wisely restored $500,000 for Fiscal Year 2009, numerous unfilled positions have been left vacant as part of the overall cut. And, it's also important to note that the state park system was already severely under-funded before the imposition of the budget cut.

There's simply no meat left on the state park system skeleton for further budget cuts. Any such cuts will result in significant adverse actions within selected parks or across the system, depending on the amount of the cuts. These adverse actions will degrade the park system's attractiveness to those who spend their recreation and tourism dollars in and around the wholesome, family-oriented activities and opportunities our state parks are famous for providing. This, in turn, will result in reduced recreation and tourism dollars being spent, thus adversely affecting the state and local economies as well as the number of revenue dollars generated by the park system to add to the system's total budget.

It's important to note that, even given the significant budget cuts absorbed in prior years, Virginia's State Park System is now experiencing a very strong revenue producing year. Recent data show that visitation numbers are nearing a record high and that both cabin and camping revenues are already at all-time highs.

The Reservation Center answered 9% more calls this year than last and booked 14% more reservations over a comparable time frame. And, this was done with fewer staff this year than last year as a result of prior budget cuts.

These and other data make a compelling case that Virginia's state parks have become the popular alternative for recreation and tourism spending by visitors during these difficult economic times. Without question, it is imperative that the park system receive sufficient funds to prevent degradation of the system to the point where past and future visitors choose another alternative.

Thus, we urge you to not impose further cuts to an already severely under-funded, but award winning and revenue producing state park system. Having said this, we also want you to know that we truly appreciate the difficulty of the decisions you face in achieving a balanced budget. Thank you for considering our views on the essential funding needs of the Commonwealth's State Park System.