Wildlife, parks need more $$$ — not less

Sometimes, some things just make no sense.

Like, for example, the approval last week by the Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee that supported cutting the budgets of the Divisions of Parks and Recreation and Wildlife Resources — $300,000 from parks and $211,000 from wildlife.

I mean, we're talking a small nick in the state's $6.5 billion war chest, but in the case of the parks department, it represents a 10 percent chunk out of an already whittled-down budget.

The cut will be no less painful to wildlife.

Especially when you take the time to turn away from the past and look hard into the future. Instead of cuts, our voted-in officials should be looking at doubling, even tripling their respective budgets, with more money promised next session.

Take parks, for example. People here in Utah love to camp. Outdoor Industry Association figures show that in 2003, roughly 1.3 million people participated in outdoor recreation.

Overall, Utah ranks No. 3 in participation in outdoor recreation.

The study shows 629,821 Utahns went camping in an area where they could park their vehicle, pull out a tent, unload coolers of food onto a picnic table and start up a fire in a pit. The only thing more popular was hiking, with 765,696 participants.

Expenditures by these outdoor enthusiasts in pursuit of their interest were nearly $100 million.

For some unexplained reason, Parks and Recreation has been a target for lawmakers in recent years. Over the past four years, the division has lost about $8 million in funds.

Former Gov. Mike Leavitt promised the division $10 million for much needed improvements and expansion in anticipation of future growth, and it received only $5 million. Then, after 9/11, there was a drop in visitation, followed by budget cuts to the tune of $1.4 million.

The results were that parks and rec had to make cuts — the elimination of 30 positions and the transfer of three parks into local hands — Fort Buenaventura in Ogden, Jordan River Parkway and Minersville in Beaver County.

Consider, too, that over the past four years, state employees received their one and only raise last year, which amounted to hardly anything when increased health costs were factored in.

What is most alarming at this point is that there is a $67 million backlog on capital renovations. These are funds needed in stay current and restore, not grow.