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A recent poll surveyed voters regarding potential state budget cuts: "The top two areas voters called to send to the chopping block?...Prisons (56%) and State Parks (52%)" What must be answered by the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors is, "What are you going to do about this?"
Prisons and parks account for a huge number and percentage of Tuolumne County jobs. Granted, many of the workers at the State Prison do not live in Tuolumne County, but they all create some revenue for us.
But the State Parks, losing them (possibly as early as June 30th) would totally cripple our economy. This is the season of tourism, beginning right now. Columbia is hurting because of vacant businesses and buildings. Railtown exists because of many just super volunteers. But Railtown has a budget it must maintain too.
Railtown is doable on a local level, say $300,000 or less a year. But Columbia, with what, 400,000 plus visitors a year, has a budget that cannot be sustained locally. And now, the taxpayers are saying "cut the Parks, cut the prisons." And thus, cut Tuolumne County.
But there is hope for the Parks. It is not a tax, it is a fee. And it is promised in writing that those fees be locked in a "vault" and used for nothing but the 278 State Parks. There is our out, there is our future; but where is the Board of Supervisors?
Well here, look this over, then I suggest that you take a position.
I would strongly suggest you take a stand on this ballot measure, individually or collectively. If you oppose it, let the people you represent know why you oppose it. By the way, silence is opposition.
The poll says the people give Parks a low priority, but with everyones support, we can get a 50% plus one vote on November 2nd. From the hundreds of people I have talked to, it is doable. Many view a users fee to maintain our magnificent Parks far more positively than taking money from schools to maintain them.
Please do not wait any longer, time is running out. It appears Tuolumne County's, as well as many other California cities and counties, futures depend upon this proposal. Cordially,
Domenic Torchia Columbia
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