Recommendations from Task Force on Sustainable State Parks Funding

by Adnan Alam

By Cronkite News Service

Here are recommendations from Gov. Jan Brewer’s Task Force on Sustainable State Parks Funding:

_ Establish an annual fee of $14 to $15 on top of registration fees for non-commercial vehicles and dedicate it to funding Arizona State Parks. Owners would be able to opt out of the fee. Regardless of whether they pay the fee, all drivers with Arizona plates would get free admission to state parks.

_ Provide sufficient funding next fiscal year to prevent further cutbacks and service deterioration.

_ Make it so programs administered by Arizona State Parks but funded separately remain separate from the agency’s operating funds.