By CHRIS HARRIS, CJ Staff Writer
Commonwealth Journal
Somerset —
A plan to privatize services at some state parks will help save Kentucky money — but might Burnside be involved?It’s hard to say, according to Pulaski County’s own state representative Tommy Turner.
State officials said last week that the operation of state golf courses and selected restaurants is being turned over to private companies. The plan would open Buckhorn Lake, General Butler, Jenny Wiley and Lake Barkley state resort parks to alcohol sales, which could generate about $1 million a year in additional revenue.Could General Burnside Island State Park eventually be involved in this? Given Burnside’s “moist” status, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
However, like so many other issues involving state government in recent weeks — from how the budget crisis might affect teacher layoffs, to the Medicaid crunch and its ramifications for mental health facility Oakwood — the problem is that there are simply no clear answers yet.“I don’t think any decisions have been made,” said Turner, a Republican in the Kentucky House of Representatives. “I think they had people do feasibility studies on how to raise money (because) the park system as a whole is losing money.”
Burnside is not, however, suggested Turner — in fact, Burnside has done quite well for itself. “We’re lucky here at Burnside,” said Turner. “It’s one of the most revenue-producing (state parks) that we’ve got.”
Turner noted that Burnside was in fact in the top three most lucrative parks in the state (Turner attempted to obtain the exact numbers for the Commonwealth Journal, but they weren’t available by presstime).“It’s first or second in sustaining itself, so we’ve got one of the better (parks) here,” “If they ever decide to (go through with this plan), it would affect some of the ones that aren’t sustaining themselves.”
Turner admitted that his legislative body “wouldn’t have a whole lot of input” on what parks might be affects — “that would be a decision that the (parks commissioner) would have to make, but I hope they take these things into consideration.”Among other changes to the park system announced Thursday, hundreds of seasonal employees will work for temporary agencies rather than being on state payroll, winter operations will be scaled back at most locations and all employees who work 40 hours a week will be cut back to 37.5 hours.
Consultants said the changes could save the state about $6 million a year. Of that, about $2 million will come from scaling back work hours.Parks Commissioner Gerry van der Meer said Kentucky has been able to avoid park closures that have occurred in some other states. Under the Kentucky plan, no parks will be shuttered, he said.
Beshear called the state's parks "important economic catalysts.""It's important that we protect and preserve these parks because they contribute greatly to adventure tourism and provide our citizens opportunities for healthy living," he said in a written statement.
Kentucky has more than 50 state parks and historical sites that generate $53 million in revenues. The revenue, however, falls short of covering the $83 million a year in operating expenses.Indiana-based PROS Consulting LLC reviewed the state park system's business operations and recommended numerous changes, including the implementation of admission fees.
Tourism Secretary Marcheta Sparrow said that recommendation was rejected but the rest of the changes mark steps toward "getting the system's financial house in order."•••
The Associated Press contributed to this story
