Utah parks feel pinch

Capitol Reef

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• Base budget: $8,000 decrease

• Budget with project funding: $349,000 decrease

The national park's base budget decreased by $8,000 this year. The Interior Department said that if additional year-to-year project money were included, the park's budget decreased compared to 2003 by much more: $349,000.

Interior wrote those cuts led the park to hire seasonal park rangers a month later than in the past, which also delayed expanded summer hours at the visitors center by a month. The park also has one fewer law enforcement officer, which reduced backcountry hiking and road patrols by about four patrols a week.

It said that hiking and road patrols this fall will also be reduced compared to last fall.

Park Superintendent Al Hendricks noted that any budget decrease hits his park especially hard because currently 98 percent of his budget goes to employee salaries and only 2 percent for other supplies and services.

"That's what happens in a very nice park where people like to work, and there's not much turnover. Where others might be able to trim back a position here and there, we haven't had that opportunity," he said.

He adds he wants to protect his work force, but if budget trends continue, "We'll be hard-pressed to do that. I don't think (a) 98 percent to 2 percent (ratio) is a sustainable figure, although we were able to do it this year."