State park fiscal operations are major enterprises. In fiscal year 1994-1995 state park agencies had available over $1.5 billion for operating and fixed capital expenditures (see Tables 21 and 22) and generated over $500 million in revenue through a variety of sources. By any comparison, state parks is big business.
| Western | $100,019,446 | $9,424,906 | $32,194,706 | $43,391,631 | $8,246,780 | $1,778,076 | $4,983,347 | |
| Pacific | $259,501,805 | $0 | $100,976,125 | $104,498,840 | $26,587,503 | $3,206,337 | $24,233,000 | |
| Southern | $370,965,380 | $68,664,397 | $126,246,078 | $126,306,341 | $38,726,730 | $878,869 | $9,032,675 | |
| Northern | $514,416,443 | $29,679,873 | $94,745,649 | $332,587,601 | $39,322,479 | $8,169,231 | $5,872,129 | |
| Total | $1,244,903,074 | $107,769,176 | $354,162,558 | $606,784,413 | $112,883,492 | $14,032,513 | $44,121,151 | |
| % of Total | 100.0% | 8.7% | 28.6% | 48.9% | 9.1% | 1.1% | 3.6% | |
Between 1992 and 1996 the state general fund contributions to
state park budgets declined from 52.4% to 48.7% of the total operating
budget, although the actual number of dollars allocated increased
by $35.4 million dollars. Also declining as a share of the total
operating budget was appropriated and unappropriated revenues,
but in each case by .6% or less. Dedicated funds increased from
$68.6 million to $112.9 million or 64.6%. Federal funds increased
by 43.6% or $4.3 million over the same period. Ranking third in
increases was the "Other" category, accounting for an
increase of $9.7 million (28.2%) to $44.1 million annually.
Table 22 illustrates the fixed capital outlay expenditures. The
expenditures are restricted to land acquisition, park construction
and the like and do not report expenditures for debt services
on bonds sold for capital improvements. Funds committed to capital
expenditures declined by $150 million between 1992 and 1996. A
5 year trend analysis shows that funds for capital improvements
have decreased an average of 9.9% a year. The $426 million allocated
in 1992 is the highest amount, while the 1996 amount is the lowest
allocated during the period. The average was $343 million over
the 5 year period.
Fund | Funds |
| |||||||
| Western | $36,911,457 | $14,957 | $2,491,660 | $4,666,972 | $12,867,312 | $4,212,974 | $11,538,327 | $1,119,255 | |
| Pacific | $35,085,260 | $0 | $1,686,029 | $12,954,964 | $9,516,470 | $8,442,000 | $826,157 | $1,659,640 | |
| Southern | $68,972,228 | $1,684,790 | $2,670,772 | $15,737,815 | $10,550,359 | $37,135,727 | $576,858 | $555,907 | |
| Northern | $134,801,989 | $3,661,870 | $20,896,257 | $9,044,782 | $20,017,125 | $23,683,435 | $53,628,544 | $3,869,976 | |
| Total | $275,710,934 | $5,361,617 | $27,744,718 | $42,404,533 | $52,951,266 | $73,474,136 | $66,569,886 | $7,204,778 | |
| % of Total | 100.0% | .8% | 3.3% | 19.3% | 26.0% | 43.1% | 5.3% | 2.3% | |
Bonds are the largest single source of funds for fixed capital
improvements (26.7%). Federal funds, in 1996, were the second
largest source of income. Federal funds, however, can be highly
variable. In 1992 the Federal funding of state park capital improvements
was 5.3%. To illustrate, between 1992 and 1996 Federal funding
declined in two regions, increased by 404.4% in the Western region
($2.3 million to $9.3 million) and 465.2% in the Northern region
from $9.5 million to $44.1 million. In the Pacific and Southern
regions Federal contributions to capital expenditures were less
than $1 million each.
Dedicated funds are monies from earmarked sources committed to
capital improvements and were the third largest source of income,
although this has traditionally been the second largest source
of income for state park capital improvements. During the 1992
to 1996 reporting period the amount decreased by 52.1% or $57.7
million. An equally dramatic decline occurred in the allocation
of general fund appropriations. The general fund appropriations
declined by $39.9 million or 48.5%. Twenty-nine states did not
allocate any general funds for capital improvements in 1996. This
is an increase of 6 over the 1992 data when 23 states did not
receive funding from the general fund. This depicts the continuing
shift away from general funds as a key source for support of the
state parks, in both operating and capital expenditures.
Appropriated revenues showed the largest increase in financial
contributions, following Federal funds, between 1992 and 1996.
Appropriated revenues share of the capital expenditures grew by
6.7% and $18 million. This reflects the continuing increase in
expectations for parks to go further towards becoming more fiscally
supportive of their operations.
Table 23 shows the impact of state park budgets on the total state
budget. The left side of the table depicts totals by region. The
right side depicts means by state. State park agencies average
.22% or less than one-quarter of one percent of the state's operating
budget. This figure does not include the expenditure of fixed
capital outlay, but even if it was included it would change the
results only negligibly. The highest percentage of operating expenditures
occurs in the Pacific region while the lowest occurs in the Northern
region. State park agencies share of state budgets has not changed
since 1992. The sources of funds for operating budgets, however,
did shift and is anticipated to continue shifting.
| Western | $40,376,445,000 | $99,720,652 | 0.25% | $3,364,703,750 | $8,310,054 | 0.25% |
| Pacific | $93,399,564,000 | $259,501,805 | 0.28% | $18,679,912,800 | $51,900,361 | 0.28% |
| Southern | $148,207,086,000 | $362,713,252 | 0.24% | $11,400,545,077 | $27,901,019 | 0.24% |
| Northern | $273,052,996,000 | $507,137,784 | 0.19% | $13,652,649,800 | $25,356,889 | 0.19% |
| Total | $555,036,091,000 | $1,229,073,493 | 0.22% | $27,751,804,550 | $61,453,675 | 0.22% |
| |||||||||
| Western | $16,077,503 | $11,418,162 | $2,728,344 | $7,474 | $3,975,157 | $577,003 | $997,148 | $16,018,134 | $53,024,022 |
| Pacific | $27,983,531 | $37,237,508 | $136,228 | $99,681 | $8,258,722 | $0 | $477,000 | $6,203,331 | $80,350,054 |
| Southern | $21,992,699 | $36,654,770 | $22,802,137 | $32,000,648 | $8,253,218 | $2,347,759 | $18,655,143 | $31,456,243 | $208,251,395 |
| Northern | $47,974,193 | $55,434,370 | $11,651,272 | $7,736,321 | $12,007,537 | $1,960,315 | $18,861,714 | $33,719,078 | $194,059,154 |
| Total | $114,027,926 | $140,744,810 | $37,317,981 | $39,844,124 | $32,494,634 | $4,885,077 | $38,991,005 | $87,396,786 | $535,684,625 |
| % of Total | 23.0% | 28.4% | 7.5% | 8.0% | 6.6% | 1.0% | 7.9% | 17.6% | |
Entrance fees are the second largest source of income for state
parks accounting for 23% of the total revenues. Between 1992 and
1996 this amount grew by 19.8% or $18.8 million. During this period
actual use of the state park estate grew by 25 million visitors.
While entrance fees may have increased in some areas, it would
appear their increase has been minor and the majority of the increase
in revenue has come from higher visitation rates.
Golf and Lodges are growing areas within the state park systems.
Golf revenues increased by 36.3% and lodges by 23.9%. Golf courses
are most dominant in the Northern and Southern regions, accounting
for over 96% of all golf revenue generated. The Northern region
showed almost a $6 million growth between 1992 and 1996. As in
golf operations, lodges are predominantly a Northern and Southern
region feature accounting for 99% of the revenue. The Southern
region is particularly dominant with 80% of the revenue generated
there.
Fixed capital outlay expenditures illustrated some of the same
issues as depicted in the operating budget. The general fund is
a key source of funds, but not the primary source of funds, accounting
for less than 20% in 1992 and 15.3% in 1996. States are continuing
to shift commitments away from general funds to other sources
of revenue for all operations.
The sources of revenue operations are of continuing importance
to the state park operating budgets. As has already been suggested,
these sources of revenue will continue to have an even greater
importance in the future.
Trends in Financing
State general fund appropriations are diminishing as a primary
funding source for state park operations. It remains the single
largest source of operating budget funds for state parks, but
the importance of revenues and dedicated funds is increasing steadily.
State park agencies are becoming, of necessity, more entrepreneurial.
For example, state park support groups are growing. In 1996, 22
states had system wide support groups and 8 had system wide endowed
funds. More importantly, individual parks are beginning to acquire
support groups. The 1996 NASPD AIX reported 45 states with individual
park support groups covering 626 parks.
| Introduction | Inventory | Facilities | Visitation | Finances | Conclusion |
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