The Temescal Canyon Association, Topanga Canyon Docents and California State Parks Foundation are looking for volunteers to help support an initiative that they say will provide a stable funding source for state parks. The organizations are striving to qualify the State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010 for the November ballot and need volunteers to help collect the 433,971 signatures required. There will be a training session from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 24 at Temescal Gateway Park. The initiative calls for every Californian who operates a non-commercial vehicle to be charged an $18 annual surcharge on their vehicle license fee in exchange for a State Park Access Pass, which would give them free entry into state parks. These vehicle owners would no longer have to pay day-use fees, which parks collect. The revenue generated would be placed in a trust fund that could be spent only on state parks, wildlife, natural lands and ocean conservation programs. ’We feel this is the necessary step to take now to ensure the preservation of our state parks, which are priceless assets,’ wrote Lucinda Mittleman, a Topanga Canyon docent who helped lead the Campaign to Save Topanga State Park. Trust fund revenues would amount to approximately $500 million each year (based on about 28 million registered vehicles); 85 percent would be allocated to state parks and 15 percent to other state wildlife and ocean protection agencies. Twice in the past two years, the state has threatened to close parks because of budget constraints. ’Nearly 60 state parks will be shut down part-tme or their hours of operation reduced because of this year’s budget cuts, and more park closure proposals and budget cuts are expected,’ according to a press release from the California State Parks Foundation. ‘California’s parks are becoming less available to the public.’ The trust fund would be subject to an audit by the state auditor, and a citizens’ oversight committee would be created to ensure that funds are spent appropriately. Audit, oversight and administrative costs of this measure would be limited to one percent of the annual revenues. ’With a new dedicated revenue stream in place, approximately $130 million of general fund dollars ‘ that provide a portion of overall state parks funding ‘ would now be available for other vital needs, like schools, health care, social services or public safety,’ according to the State Parks Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Sacramento. Those interested in attending the January 24 training should RSVP to Mittleman at lucinda@savetopangastatepark.org. For more information about the initiative visit www.calparks.org/takeaction.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
