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ENLARGE
Park Advisory Board member Jon Hill gestures while making a point during Wednesday's meeting to discuss the future of Douglas County parks. From left are Jim Dowd, the county's parks director, board member Lonnie Ferber, Hill and Rob Stevens, the county's park operations supervisor.
WINCHESTER — Deeper cuts slated from the ever-shrinking federal timber safety net have officials from the Douglas County Parks Department scrambling to consider how they will continue to keep parks open.
In two years, the department is slated to lose $179,000 in general fund revenue, when cuts to the safety net accelerate to 35 percent from the year before. Last year, this year and next year, the revenue decreases have been 10 percent per year.
On Wednesday, the Parks Advisory Board held a brainstorming session to look at ways to increase revenue to make up for the losses.
Among the ideas suggested were adding new cabins at Chief Miwaleta Campground next to Galesville Reservoir, expanding the campground at Whistlers Bend to include additional yurts or a cabin, developing an equine campground at Winchester Bay and adding wireless Internet at the Windy Cove Campground.
“We need to have an idea of what we're going to do,” Parks Director Jim Dowd told the board.
Forty percent of the Parks Department's $1.3 million operating budget comes from the general fund, where the annual cuts are being made. The rest of the money comes from state and federal grants, campground revenues and other sources.
Dowd told the board that the department will be able to absorb the next 10 percent cut in the fiscal year beginning July 1 without substantial cuts to services. The following year will be tough, he said.
“I do not see making this kind of cut and maintaining services,” committee member Jon Hill said.
The Board of Commissioners has made it clear it doesn't want departments to make up for the lost revenue by increasing fees or instituting new fees. Hill and other committee members questioned whether campground fees could be raised for nonresidents while maintaining the current rate schedule for Douglas County residents.
Three-quarters of the guests at the county's campgrounds are from outside the county and raising the fees they pay could increase revenue substantially, board members said.
Board member Dennis Acton suggested the county consider implementing a hotel-motel tax that could provide money to benefit the park system. Roseburg imposes a similar tax that funds the visitors bureau.
Some of the improvements could possibly be funded through a state parks grant that provides 80 percent of the costs. That would cut down substantially on the county's investment, Dowd said.
He estimated that construction of three new cabins at Chief Miwaleta could generate up to $40,000 a year for all four. However, that would only be a dent in the shortfall, he said.
“I don't see us getting to where we want to be in two years,” Dowd said.
Board member Dick Swartzlender suggested the county consider creation of a service district to provide money to operate parks.
“Is that where we want to go? I don't know,” Swartzlender said. “Without it, it's going to be a tough row to keep the parks open.”
Hill offered that a broader service district could help fund parks, the library system, fairgrounds and museum.
Lane County charges a parking fee for all of its parks. While Douglas County has resisted that idea in the past, creating a charge for parks and boat ramps could generate additional revenue, board members said.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@nrtoday.com.
In two years, the department is slated to lose $179,000 in general fund revenue, when cuts to the safety net accelerate to 35 percent from the year before. Last year, this year and next year, the revenue decreases have been 10 percent per year.
On Wednesday, the Parks Advisory Board held a brainstorming session to look at ways to increase revenue to make up for the losses.
Among the ideas suggested were adding new cabins at Chief Miwaleta Campground next to Galesville Reservoir, expanding the campground at Whistlers Bend to include additional yurts or a cabin, developing an equine campground at Winchester Bay and adding wireless Internet at the Windy Cove Campground.
“We need to have an idea of what we're going to do,” Parks Director Jim Dowd told the board.
Forty percent of the Parks Department's $1.3 million operating budget comes from the general fund, where the annual cuts are being made. The rest of the money comes from state and federal grants, campground revenues and other sources.
Dowd told the board that the department will be able to absorb the next 10 percent cut in the fiscal year beginning July 1 without substantial cuts to services. The following year will be tough, he said.
“I do not see making this kind of cut and maintaining services,” committee member Jon Hill said.
The Board of Commissioners has made it clear it doesn't want departments to make up for the lost revenue by increasing fees or instituting new fees. Hill and other committee members questioned whether campground fees could be raised for nonresidents while maintaining the current rate schedule for Douglas County residents.
Three-quarters of the guests at the county's campgrounds are from outside the county and raising the fees they pay could increase revenue substantially, board members said.
Board member Dennis Acton suggested the county consider implementing a hotel-motel tax that could provide money to benefit the park system. Roseburg imposes a similar tax that funds the visitors bureau.
Some of the improvements could possibly be funded through a state parks grant that provides 80 percent of the costs. That would cut down substantially on the county's investment, Dowd said.
He estimated that construction of three new cabins at Chief Miwaleta could generate up to $40,000 a year for all four. However, that would only be a dent in the shortfall, he said.
“I don't see us getting to where we want to be in two years,” Dowd said.
Board member Dick Swartzlender suggested the county consider creation of a service district to provide money to operate parks.
“Is that where we want to go? I don't know,” Swartzlender said. “Without it, it's going to be a tough row to keep the parks open.”
Hill offered that a broader service district could help fund parks, the library system, fairgrounds and museum.
Lane County charges a parking fee for all of its parks. While Douglas County has resisted that idea in the past, creating a charge for parks and boat ramps could generate additional revenue, board members said.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@nrtoday.com.
