State parks reportedly to remain open under governor's revised budget proposal

By Bob Cuddy
bcuddy@thetribunenews.com

Montana de Oro and other state parks will remain open under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s revised budget proposal, according to state Sen. Abel Maldonado’s office.

Schwarzenegger submitted a budget proposal in January that makes 10 percent, across-the-board cuts and does not raise taxes.

He included the state Department of Parks and Recreation, and named 48 parks to be closed statewide. Seven are in San Luis Obispo County, including Montaña de Oro and Morro Strand State Beach.

However, in his revised budget today – known as the “May revise” – Schwarzenegger spared the parks, although entrance fees to some of the most popular parks may go up by a dollar or two, according to Brooke Armour, Maldonado’s communications director.

Armour said she did not know whether any local parks would see a fee increase. The governor and Legislature are communicating throughout the day on the revised budget, and details are sometimes hard to come by, she said.

However, she said Maldonado is “thrilled” at the parks being spared. She attributed the governor backing off to “a lot of great constituent effort.” She said she had nearly 1,000 letters from citizens and many phone calls.

The county Board of Supervisors also sent a strongly worded letter urging the governor to leave the parks alone.

Supervisor Chairman Jim Patterson said he was relieved that Schwarzenegger chose to keep parks open.

He said the parks are important not only to residents, but also to the county’s tourism industry.