John Laird's VLF for Parks Plan

by Robert in Monterey [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

John Laird has always believed that Arnold Schwarzenegger's reckless cut of $6 billion from the state budget by cutting the VLF was a bad idea. And representing the 27th Assembly district, with some of the most beautiful parkland in our state (really - ever been to Point Lobos?) he has long sought ways to improve parks funding and access.

Now Laird is proposing to address both concerns with a plan to raise vehicle registration fees by $10 to pay for parks - and to help offset the cost of eliminating day use fees.

The additional funds would be a huge boost to a parks system that has accumulated $1 billion in deferred maintenance and has struggled in recent years with ranger staffing and park security, Laird said.

"This will allow us to begin to return to the level of parks we used to know," Laird said. "It's in a process of dying over time. Unless we find a strong, stable source (of funding), we're just going to fall farther behind in our maintenance and have trouble acquiring more land."...

Because cars would be able to enter parks for free, the state would lose about $40 million in entry fees it collects every year. The net funding increase would actually be $242 million.

Also, the state parks system's entire $150 million annual budget would be available to the state's general fund in the first year of the registration fees. Every year after that, the state's general fund will be allowed access to $50 million less from the state parks budget until the entire amount is designated for the parks.

At that point, state parks would have a $392 million annual budget, not including any variations in the total number of registered vehicles in California....

"We can negotiate things like that if people think it's going to be an issue," Laird said....

A recent poll of Californians showed 74 percent favor the registration increase, Laird said.

While I'm not sure I like the idea of leaving the parks budget available to the general fund - it's time we stopped raiding other funds because the state isn't willing to tackle the structural revenue shortfall - and though I'd prefer a full restoration of the pre-1998 VLF, the overall concept seems sound. California's beaches and parks should be free for day visitors, and as they are part of the state's natural heritage, everyone should pitch in to help keep them afloat.

Besides, at many parks, folks have already found workarounds to avoid paying the day use fee - including here in Monterey County, where folks can simply park along Highway 1 and walk into most parks and beaches rather than pay the fee. This provides a more sustainable parks budget, helps address the backlog, and all with new revenues. It's a progressive solution.