Constitutional amendment to protect state parks funding clears Senate (al.com)
By Mike Cason | mcason@al.com
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on March 22, 2016 at 7:17 PM, updated March 23, 2016 at 7:35 AM
The Alabama Senate today approved a proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit the Legislature from taking funds collected by state parks and spending it on other programs.
The bill by Sen. Clay Scofield, R-Guntersville, would protect funds the parks collect for lodging, entrance fees, merchandise sales, golf course fees and other sources that are used to operate and maintain the parks.
The Legislature has transferred about $15 million in state parks funds over the last five years, according to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Last year, the department cited the funding transfers when it announced the closing of five state parks. Local governments later stepped in with plans to keep some of those open.
***
more: http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/03/constitutional_amendment_to_pr.html
