Save Benicia SRA

The 2008-09 California State Budget process and some background as it relates to the Benicia State Recreation Area.

Jan 10


		The California Department of Parks and Recreation has issued a "01/10/2008 Fact Sheet" (156 KB) regarding the park closures. An updated "01/14/2008 Fact Sheet" (202 KB) was issued with a corrected "Budget Highlights" section that further detailed the nature of the projected "savings". Page 3 and 4 in either document details the "methodology for closure" as four bullet points. It is this methodology that is the basis for my argument.

		The actual numbers used to determine the Park Usage (methodology point 2) and Generated Revenue (methodology point 3) are from the Departments published Statistical Report 2006/07 Fiscal Year" (810 KB).

Feb 5


		In response to the Department of Parks and Recreations Fact Sheet, I have created a Benicia SRA Fact Sheet (2.4 MB) that is specific to the Park and includes my reasoning for why the Park should not be closed.

Feb 20


		The California Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) has conducted an Analysis of the 2008-2009 Budget Bill and has recommended that user fees in all the State Parks be increased to offset both the Governor's proposed closures and to augment the departments maintenance budget. Page B-73 in the "Resources Chapter" (1.1 MB) contains the 4 page section "Governor's Budget-Balancing Proposal Does Not Consider Opportunities to Increase User Feeee Revenues". On the road to victory... With a different approach, the LAO has presented a reasonable alternative to the State Park Closures. Now it will be up to the Governor to adopt or ignore the recommendations and present a revised budget by mid May.

Feb 26


		Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued EXECUTIVE ORDER S-02-08 creating a Cabinet Position for Service and Volunteering with Karen Baker as the first Secretary of Service and Volunteering. CaliforniaVolunteers is an online resource for the volunteer opportunities in California. (We are working at getting the volunteer opportunities at the Forrest Deaner Native Plant Botanic Garden listed for Solano County.)

We are not yet completely past the potential of the park closures. Your help is still needed.

Take action

(Soon I hope you will help us address why Solano County is not represented in the California Volunteers Matching Network (CVMN) or has a County or Regional Parks District that looks after public park lands that provide a higher quality of life for all of us.)


		Useful links for more research:
		California Coastal Conservancy - 2003 Accomplishments
		California Native Plant Society - List of Valuable Native Collections
		California State Parks
		California State Parks Foundation
		Volunteering in America, Corporation for National & Community Service
		US Census Bureau, States
		US Census Bureau, Solano County Quick Facts