SALT LAKE CITY -- Privatizing some state parks will be the focus of a study requested by a legislative committee, says Michael Styler, executive director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources.
Park privatization, more hunting on Antelope Island and depleted state DNR savings were among the budgetary topics Styler discussed as he met with a group of Davis County Chamber of Commerce members and others Monday.
Styler said possible changes to state parks in the works this legislative session have rattled him.
"I'm really nervous," he said.
Some in the Davis County group were particularly concerned to hear Styler defend his support of extending hunting on Antelope Island, a proposal that could bring the park more revenue.
"We want to bring more people to the island and ... hunting is not the way to do that," said Davis County Commissioner Louenda Downs.
Styler admitted that recent actions by a legislative joint appropriations committee are likely to kill a limited hunting proposal for Antelope Island that was earlier inserted in the budget negotiations.
That same appropriations committee last week took $1.3 million from his budget, depleting what Styler called his savings or back-up money.
Lawmakers and Gov. Gary Herbert have until Thursday to work out the budget.
"I'm really scared about the future of the state park system," Styler said.
A Feb. 25 letter from a Natural Resources budget committee requests that a legislative audit be done to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of parks operations.
"Based on that analysis ... identify potential park candidates for privatization and determine the cost and benefits of privatization," wrote Rep. Kerry Gibson, R-Ogden.
Gibson is co-chairman of the DNR Appropriations Subcommittee, which made the study request.
He wrote that the intent of the study is to save money for the state.
Gibson said the privatization idea was floated earlier in the session at committee hearings, but the study could help with any policy actions in the years ahead.
Comments