Wednesday, January 19, 2011

State Parks Audit 1/18/2011

UPEA attended a performance audit by the Legislative Auditor General on the Utah State Parks. The audit focused on measures to cut funding to state parks or eliminate some state parks altogether. Legislators are looking to make state parks more self sustaining and less dependent on the General Fund.

The Department of Natural Resources responded by saying they are taking a pro active approach to the audit and will try and find ways in which they can be more self sufficient. The department also state that state parks rough generate $67 million to the economy.

The audit will be sent to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriation Subcommittee for further review. UPEA will be tracking this issue during the legislative session.