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State parks adapt to funding cutbacks

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    Dan Springer reports from Seattle

  • Duration 2:08
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Sign of the tough economic times -- state parks are used to getting support for the taxpayers.

But budget cutbacks are changing all of that.

Now the parks are acting more like businesses they have to try to attract visitors and Dan Springer is live in Seattle with this story for us hi Dan.

Hi -- and -- pulled a three billion dollar budget deficit Washington State's governor has proposed yanking all funding from state parks.

It would be the first state park system to go completely off the public dole.

There are -- and seventy parts in Washington with some of the best scenery anywhere in the country.

But now a lifelong bureaucrats have to figure out how to make them self sustaining.

They're streamlining operations charging for -- use charging campers more during the peak season and last during the off season in short.

There -- thinking like the private sector.

We just developed a new partnership.

Division we just started marketing we have to develop new skill sets that we've never had to develop before.

We were never in the competition business.

But as they compete for that leisure spending opponents are afraid the natural beauty will be turned into theme parks less access to the least profitable spots.

And a lot -- Rangers.

What other states like California have privatize the operation of some of their parts in several national parks are being run by private companies.

And the public generally sees very little change.

They might see a few more things to -- but the biggest difference tends to be the labor cost.

State workers -- less are expensive salaries and benefits account for 85% of the state parks operating budget.

Whereas private companies it's as low as thirty to 40%.

Some even argue privatization will actually improve the par.

Government is pretty bad -- advertising the experience you can -- public parks but a private company would have much more incentive to.

Broaden their appeal to a wider public in order to encourage people to come.

Not surprising the park's director and Washington State doesn't think it can be done going off the public dole he's asking the legislature to restore eighteen.

Million dollars to his budget -- and all right Dan -- live in Seattle thank you.

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