State Parks scandal kills sales tax plan

In the wake of scandal at the top levels of the California State Parks Department, The Parks Alliance for Sonoma County has shelved a plan to raise $16 million annually for local parks through a sales tax increase.

The Board of Supervisors was to hear the proposal for a quarter-cent increase on July 31. But when the news of a secret $54 million surplus broke last Friday, the group pulled the agenda item.

“We immediately decided there is no way we could ask the taxpayers for more in the wake of this, “ said Lauren Dixon, the Alliance deputy director. It was likely the board would have voted to place the measure on the November ballot, she said. Now, “We really couldn’t ask anybody to make that decision.”

The director of the California State Parks system, who last year said 70 parks would be closed for lack of funding, resigned July 17 after officials found an undisclosed $54 million surplus in the departmental budget.

Ruth Coleman stated she was unaware of the surplus but accepted responsibility for the discrepancy. Chief deputy Michael Harris was fired.

The underreported funds date back as far as 12 years, according to Natural Resources Agency, which oversees the parks department.

Coleman was appointed Chief Deputy for California State Parks in January 2002, after having joined the department in December 1999 as Deputy Director for Legislation.

“I find it shocking that $54 million in state funds were kept off the books,” said Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael). “We’ve been told several times by State Parks officials during budget negotiations that the funding wasn’t there to keep all of our parks functioning.”

Though local parks may see little or none of “the found money,” the perception of any windfall is an issue. “When you hear parks are closing, then this money is miraculously found, it is understandable there would be confusion,” Dixon said.

Elisa Stancil, vice president of the Valley of the Moon Historical Society, which now operates Jack London State Park said it’s important to focus on local solutions and successes. “We are eager to differentiate ourselves from the failed bureaucracy of State Parks,” she said.

The scandal was uncovered after “The Sacramento Bee” reported a secret vacation buyout program for State Parks employees that cost taxpayers more than $271,000. The story prompted an inquiry by the attorney general’s office, which then discovered the $54 million in hidden funds.

Huffman said he has long been concerned about the lack of transparency and the fortress mentality at State Parks, but both should improve after an audit and investigation. “One thing that’s clear from this scandal is the state has the duty to keep every park open while we clean house at State Parks and resolve problems,” he said.

Dixon said her organization would regroup and study its options. “We need local, long-term solution regardless of what happens in Sacramento,” she said.