State talks of closing La Purisima Mission

 

La Purisima Mission State Historic Park in Lompoc is one of many parks in California to face possible closure as a result of expected budget cuts by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“The methodology for picking these parks was if we could realize a savings in closing the park,” said Roy Sterns, spokesperson for California State Parks. “This is a budget proposal for the next fiscal year and is part of the governor’s budget proposal, which now goes to the legislature for public hearings and debate.”

Built in 1820 and restored in the 1930s, La Purisima Mission is the 11th of 21 Spanish missions built in California.

 

It offers educational programs and tours, which include a visit to livestock and to rebuilt and furnished adobe rooms. It also offers events where students and visitors can learn cultural activities that were practiced by Chumash Indians.

Though this is not the first time that the park has experienced a possible shut down, Stern said that there are no alternatives to closing the park this time around.

“If the 10 percent budget cut proposal sticks, we will have reached a point where all efficiencies are gone and the only option left is to close some parks to get the kind of savings we need,” he said. “Most of our budget is people, if you close a park three days a week we’re still employing and paying those people, the only way to get a savings is to eliminate positions.”

 

Stern commented on the option of having volunteers run the park.

“There is a possibility that volunteers could run the park, but it’s only a possibility, because you can’t just turn a volunteer into a park ranger overnight,” he said.

“Volunteers are wonderful. They keep our gift shops open. They run tours and they even help with some maintenance, but they are not the people who are trained supervisors and managers for our park.”

 

The governor’s budget plan includes the closure of 48 state parks, 12 of which are located in Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo County, and portions of Monterey, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties.

“Our state is known worldwide for our beautiful parks. I am very concerned for the proposed closure of 43 parks throughout the state,” said State Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-San Luis Obispo, after reviewing the governor’s annual budget proposal.

“I am proud to represent one-third of the state’s coast, and the parks in my district are enjoyed by local residents and tourists alike.  I am extremely disheartened to see this list of closures,” Maldonado said.

 

Schwarzenegger’s budget proposal also includes cuts in education funds and early release of inmates from state prisons.

“We do not have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem,” Schwarzenegger said Jan. 8 in his State of the State address.

Schwarzenegger on Jan. 10 declared a fiscal emergency, which will force lawmakers to take action and enforce a number of budget cuts within 45 days instead of waiting for the beginning of the next fiscal year on July 1 as is the usual practice.

California’s current deficit is $3.3 billion.

The fiscal 2009 deficit is expected to be $14.5 billion.