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Posted by Vince Lucas on 22:33:15 10/30/08
I found this on the web somewhere. Notice that it effects two state parks in the Florida Keys: Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park & Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park. Listed also is Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park one of the best sites for the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow. As the song goes, "Money, money, money . . . ."
All,
During development of the Legislative Budget Requests for Fiscal Year 2009-2010 all state agencies were asked to submit plans to reduce their annual operating budgets by 10 percent. This action was taken as a result of shortfalls in statewide revenues. If approved by the Office of the Governor, the reductions will be considered during the 2009 legislative session.
In order to reduce the Division of Recreation and Park's statewide expenditures by 10 percent, a spending reduction plan was developed which includes, among other measures, the temporary closure of 19 state parks until the state's economy improves and revenues return to normal levels. Temporarily closed parks would be placed into a "caretaker" status until they can be re-opened. This plan includes FTE's from the affected parks to either remain as a temporary caretaker or to be transferred to another state park. The plan does not include a reduction in FTE's, however, it does include a reduction in OPS staffing.
The 19 parks that have been identified for temporary closure are:
O Yellow River Marsh Preserve State Park
O St. Marks River State Park
O Lake June-In-Winter Scrub State Park
O Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park
O Constitution Convention Museum State Park
O John Gorrie Museum State Park
O Deer Lake State Park
O Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park
O Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park
O Terra Ceia Preserve State Park
O Letchworth-Love Mounds Archaeological State Park
O Dunns Creek State Park
O San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park
O Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park
O Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park
O Dudley Farm Historic State Park
O Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
O Florida Nature and Heritage Tourism Center
O Cedar Key Museum State Park
In addition to the 19 parks listed above, the spending reduction plan calls for the Division to return management of three state parks, which are not owned by the State of Florida, to their owners for future management. While these FTE positions will be eliminated, the personnel will be reassigned to other parks.
The three properties to be returned to their owners are:
O Three Rivers State Park (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
O Forest Capital Museum State Park (Taylor County)
O Egmont Key State Park (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services)
As we move forward, I am sure the Governor and the Members of the Legislature will carefully consider the impacts of the proposed reductions. While they will have to make tough decisions, I am confident they will do so with great care. I want to reassure you that we will make every effort to minimize the adverse impacts to the state park system, the visitors we serve, our volunteers and to you, our employees.
Please work with your supervisor to ask any questions you may have and as always, feel free to contact me.
Mike Bullock, Director
Florida Division of Recreation & Parks
Department of Environmental Protection
3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS500
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: (850)245-3029 Fax: (850)245-3041
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