When raising state park fees is mentioned, the public goes apeshit about "spending more money for fatcat bureaucrats in our PUBLIC land!!!" and it doesn't get done.

Same as when hunting/fishing license fees increase.

"Waaaa! My hunting license went up 87 cents this year! Chuck Sykes is getting rich off these license fee increases!"


"Waaa! I have to pay a dollar more to launch a boat or two dollars more to park at Oak Mountain! The giant lunch buffet at Lakepoint went up by $1.50 and now it will cost my family of six more money to go pig out every Sunday! Waaa! Legislators and state park employees sitting on their big asses getting richer and richer!"

None of that is true, of course. But it doesn't matter because the knee-jerk public reactions like that are common.

That's why the state should just sell all that land for industrial development and shut down the agencies.

Where and what, specifically? Just curious.

Clem, maybe we can release prisoners and let them operate the state parks. Nothing says family fun like a convicted murderer with a face tat taking your $4.00 at the gate. Two birds killed with one stone.

Damn....I think I'm gettin a chubby.

Great idea, Augustus. They used to use state prisoners for cleanup and such at Gulf State Park, so there precedent has been set.

"Welcome to Oak Mountain State Park. Parking is $10, a pack of smokes and I can get you a prime spot near the lodge for a little extra."

But, the sign says parking is just $5.

"Parking is $10 and a pack of smokes. And remember, snitches get stitches."

The RSA is a state agency. Dr. Bonner wanted to build a convention center at Gulf State Park using RSA funds and investors with no tax dollars being used but politics got in the way. It still may happen some day and we need one so Alabama businesses can have their convention in state and not in Sandestin.

Examples:

Education: I'm not talking salaries of teachers, but capital expenditures. Kids in public schools need a nice and safe school, but some of the architecture and design of our schools is outrageously expensive. Multi-million dollar Taj Mahal schools...when a good basic building would do just as good. Curriculum and programs in schools could also be adjusted to save money...when cash poor focus on the basics and let extra curricular or non-core classes be fee based so parents can help fund. Why does Education have their own budget and run surpluses....redo the system. Just a few examples....but this is in Education which is all earmarked anyway.

Prisons: Our prisons are overcrowded and cost lots of money...huge % of budget. Non-violent offenders need to be put to work all across the state instead of being locked up. Cutting grass, cleaning rivers and lakes, road crews, chain gangs, painting schools, etc... Make them work to pay their community service. Much cheaper than housing them. If they don't show up or refuse to work, lock them up. Just one example.

Medicaid: Fraud and abuse of Medicaid is high. Doctors milk it. Citizens get on it and stay on it. The safety net has become comfortable hammock. Those who truly need it for long term should get the care they need always. Truly need--the definition is broad and is part of the problem. Medicaid spending is a huge budget item.

Agencies: Ever looked at how many State agencies, boards, commissions, etc... there are? Not really small and limited government. I'd guess there could be more consolidation of resources. Plenty of overlap. Take construction for example, there is the Building Commission, Builders Licensure Board, General Contractors Licensure Board, HVAC Board, Plumbing and Gas Board, Architect Board, etc.... Why not streamline all of these into one Building/Construction agency? One example. Then there is the by-product of so many stat employees---the pension system which is already in trouble financially. Why not privatize and bid out non-core or non-essential services or roles within our state government? Kick it to the private sector to do and save some state money...a business has flexibility to budget how it needs to budget along with that is built in accountability because if it, the private business, does a bad job the contract is in jeopardy.

Agency list: http://inform.alabama.gov/agencysearch.aspx

Bottom line is this:Medicaid and Prisons are the two biggest budget busters. No one wants to keep children from receiving quality care nor do they want criminals roaming free. Reforms must be made in these two areas for any significant budget resolution. Our state government is too big, too slow, too costly in size and scope--consolidate and reform it now before it gets worse.

This is must my thought...many other people with good ideas too.

You want to see what is wrong with the parks and all of state and federal government? Take a look at the park nearest you one day. Watch them cut the grass. It is all the most expensive Kubota tractors and equipment. Most of it brand new.where do they get all that new equipment? They buy it with your tax dollars from some politicians buddy that contributed to his campaign and is now cashing in on a favor. Could they make do with the older equipment they already own? Sure, but then if they don't spend their entire budget the bean counters won't give them as large a budget next year. The guys driving them are long time state employees paid well and with full benefits. Grass cutting is for young guys working to pay for school or private business that hires low paid non skilled labor, not state employees with a pension. I know it will rub everyone that works for the state or federal government the wrong way but the waste is rampant. Why have big areas of manicured lawn in a state park anyway? Let it grow. During the summer here, at least the parks I see, grass cutting is a full time job for several men. At least when they are not riding around on state golf carts. The reason they don't let prisoners do it? It would cut out some of those state jobs. Government does very few things better than private business. Let's narrow those things down and concentrate our tax dollars there and get out of all these other things. The reason the state is still in the liquor business? Corrupt politicians and bureaucrats lining their own pockets. You can make excuses for it all you want, but the government is broken. If people want things they need to pay for them. Not tax everyone dry so politicians and government can keep growing fatter. Let me give you an example I see everyday. I know a guy who works for a government agency. He drives a huge tahoe loaded out. Not law enforcement. The tag on it clearly states for official use only. His girlfriend lives 100 miles away. Every week and sometimes more he takes that huge gas guzzling tahoe and goes to see her. Using who knows how much government paid for fuel and wear and tear on the vehicle. How many government employees do this and similar things every day? How much does all that add up to.

Let me give you another example. Before Katrina hit I have a relative that works for state government. They have some state cars at their office downtown in an area that historically floods badly. He asked his boss if they were going to move the vehicle to high ground. His boss said don't worry about it, we will get new ones. They all flooded.

How often do they purchase new vehicles and equipment, like mowers and tractors?

And there still spending money daily. Heck there putting in a zip line at Guntersville as I type this. I agree with letting a private group run them. Lease it out and let them make money. There's too many pockets being padded for the state to ever make any money at them. Until some peoples hands get out of the cookie jar it will always be the same. I don't believe they will close them either. There just running there mouths IMO.

The zip line is being funded by a private company.

I don't know, but they always have new stuff. A diesel Kubota mower is about the most expensive lawn mower you can buy. That's what I saw them using here in the city yesterday. Are you saying the state doesn't waste huge amounts of money?

I wonder if Bridgeport launch on Al river is part of the state park funding or corps?

Bentley is not the one threatening to close the parks.
Greg Lein is the person responsible for the scare tactics.
This is politics at its worst.
Check out this post from a month ago and you'll be enlightened on Alabama's State Park System.
http://www.aldeer.com/forum/ubbthreads.p...195#Post1291195

I admit I know little about State Parks budget and operating procedures however I do know a little about land, timber, and recreational business development. Sign me up for the job and I'll have the parks not only self sufficient but with excess revenue going back into the communities aimed at youth involvement in the outdoors.

All I keep hearing is "They arn't making any money." What??? I thought they were open for folks to enjoy not for the state to make money...It's not a business, to me at least.

Everyone has to pull their own weight. You don't have to make a bunch of money but you have to profit enough to pay the light bill.

I just keep wondering about this.....

There has GOT to be more to it!

Why go after the DCNR in a Statewide funding crisis?
What is the 'real' reason???

Heck, of all the Budgets to cut, they are a very small part of the big picture. And, there is only a certain percentage of their budget that comes from the General Fund. If anything, they COULD be self-sufficient! Heck, they have the Forever Wild Fund and Pittman Robertson....and they are safe, aren't they? I know that the Politicians have tried and tried to get ahold of some of it. But, so far, they have failed.

Its the Obama strategy, do the immediate most public thing you can so it is everyone's face then the b1tching and moaning becomes ridiculous. If they cut something like a line-item budget that supplies schools with textbooks, you wont see it happen for two years. The state parks are something he can close today and make everyone see and most importantly, bitch about it right now.