Great news!
Shortly after 3pm today, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed the four state park funding bills — collectively known as the Recreation Passport — into law.
The Department of Natural Resources is now working on Question & Answer sheets that explain the effects of this new fundamental change in how our Michigan state parks as well as state forest recreation, are funded.
It is expected that Senate bills 388 and 389 for the Recreation Passport will be voted on by the Michigan Senate and House this Thursday, November 12th, 2009.
There is a summary analysis on-line as well. This analysis provides all the details of what these bills would do if passed and signed into law. There’s also additional information (as well as media coverage links) on the Citizen’s Committee for Michigan State Parks web site.
We urge you to please contact your state senator and state representative and ask that they support these bills to help fund our state parks.
This funding is absolutely critical as the state parks have been kept afloat for years by relying on previous fund balances. Those fund balances are now drained. We should also note that since 2004, no state taxpayer money has gone towards our state parks.
This funding would also be a huge boost to Michigan trails, not only in state parks, but in state forests as well. Those trails are significantly unfunded.
Michigan state forest recreation relies primarily on three funding sources: camping fees, taxpayer support (general fund), and a portion of the fuel taxes (used primarily for capital improvements.) Without these funds, state forest campgrounds and state forest pathways could not afford to keep these facilities open and functional.
When the state legislature cut the taxpayer support to this program, the DNR was forced to close 20 state forest campgrounds which were bringing in the least revenue.
Fortunately either the public outcry or common sense forced a reversal. The legislature just restored the funding.
Below is the list of campgrounds which will be re-opened. The DNR expects the re-opens to by mid-May though some campgrounds “will require maintenance repairs to the water wells during the month of May.” (more…)