California parks department finds $54-million surplus (LA Times)

[petronius]

SACRAMENTO — California's parks system stashed away nearly $54 million even as it was cutting services and threatening to close parks, a revelation that prompted the resignation of the department's director Friday.

The hoarded cash remained untapped while the California Department of Parks and Recreation painted a dire picture of the system's health, soliciting hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations in what was thought to be a desperate scramble to keep facilities open.

...Snip...

A lack of oversight contributed to the problem. Administration officials said the parks department was sending inaccurate information to the governor's budget office and accurate information to the state controller, who monitors cash flow. Those two sets of data were never reconciled.

...Snip...

The state planned to close 70 parks this month to save $22 million, less than half the amount of the department's hidden surplus. Almost all of the parks were kept open because of partnerships with other agencies, private donors and nonprofit groups. Laird said in a conference call with reporters that lawmakers will ultimately decide how to appropriate the surplus.

...Snip...

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-state-parks-20120721,0,3462998.story

Seems like this could be a real blow to public support for parks in the long-term if our budget situation stays dire. Who's going to feel as motivated to shout next time parks go on the chopping block?

Such a stupid move - what the heck were they waiting for if they had that much money hidden away?

[mike_c]

1. several of those parks are in my neighborhood....

Several of the parks listed on the chopping block were coastal and redwood forest parks here on the north coast. Most managed to stay open, with limited service and facilities, because the county stepped up and found just enough money to keep the doors open, just barely. I'm outraged to learn that Parks and Rec had the money to keep those parks open and fully functioning all along.

[NV Whino]

2. I suspected they didn't report it because I'd they did

It would have been claimed and shunted off to another area.

[OnionPatch]

3. I almost fell out of my chair when I read this.

I can't wait to see what the investigation uncovers. This is crazy. It almost seems like someone wanted the parks to close and hid the money on purpose! Or am I putting on my tinfoil hat?

[petronius]

5. Tinfoil or not, it seems to push in that direction. During times of budget-horror,

it often seems like departments which cause trouble get hit hardest. I remember when I was in grad school during a previous hell-budget, and the university administration had to decide between broad cuts or deep: one problematic department filled with contentious faculty was simply eliminated.

Fortunately, I trust Brown not to play any knee-jerk or vindictive games, but I shudder to think how this would have gone out under an R governor...

[flamingdem]

4. Makes you wonder how many people have their hands in the till

with so little oversight.