state parks & possibly another vlf increase (San Francisco, Sacramento: fit in, how much)
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My question regarding this park closing talk is this:
How much is the state paying these park workers?
If it's an obscene wage they need to look into getting new workers at a lower wage, not raising all of your auto registrations.
I would take a park job for 10 bucks an hour if it meant moving to California, but that would be MY choice, I don't think you all should have to pay more tax to keep the parks open since many of you don't use them. California simply needs to find ways to cut corners to keep the parks open.
They should close the gifts shops and all that and maybe just focus on keeping the liter, trash, and trails looking good. There are short cuts but people arent usually willing to "rough it" to make it happen.
My question regarding this park closing talk is this:
How much is the state paying these park workers?
If it's an obscene wage they need to look into getting new workers at a lower wage, not raising all of your auto registrations.
I would take a park job for 10 bucks an hour if it meant moving to California, but that would be MY choice, I don't think you all should have to pay more tax to keep the parks open since many of you don't use them. California simply needs to find ways to cut corners to keep the parks open.
They should close the gifts shops and all that and maybe just focus on keeping the liter, trash, and trails looking good. There are short cuts but people arent usually willing to "rough it" to make it happen.
Depends on the park job in question. The most common position is park aide, typically the person who works the ticket booth or gift shop but might also be a search & rescue specialist. They make about $10-11 an hour, minimum wage in California is currently $8 an hour. Starbucks or In & Out Burger pay about $9-10 an hour in California, so you're talking about a pay scale just barely above fast food.
Job Descriptions and Statistical Information - State Personnel Board - spb.ca.gov (http://jobs.spb.ca.gov/wvpos/spbpay2rd.cfm - broken link)
Parks' gift shops are very often self-sustaining: why should they close if they are running a profit? As I mentioned, parks generate more money in tax revenue than they cost, and gift shops are an important part of that. Many park concessionaires are private businesses that contract with the state--they are private companies that make money, and pay license fees and rent (and thus revenue) to the park for the right to provide services to park visitors, plus sales tax represents tax revenue.
These are things that stimulate business and enrich our lives, even if you never set foot in a park, but they also preserve the biological, cultural and historical resources of our state. The idea that we should just throw all that in the trash can, and make matters worse, in the name of the idea that everyone has to suffer, makes no sense to me.
I have no problem paying for parks and museums when I use them. They are a bargain for what you get. It's when they are free that you get ingrates trashing them.
MisterDuke: State parks includes natural wonders like Yosemite and the Mendocino Woodlands, museums and historic buildings like Sutter's Fort, Hearst Castle and the Folsom Powerhouse. State parks also includes some historic districts like Old Town San Diego and Old Sacramento. The city park isn't "free" either--your city taxes pay for upkeep and maintenance. The difference is how you pay it.
eagle7: This isn't an increase but a change. You're already paying for state parks, the amount isn't going up, it is merely shifting how it is paid from one funding source to another--with a potential benefit that would make it easier for Californians (who already pay for the parks with their taxes) to visit state parks, even if they don't do so now. Just because you don't visit state parks doesn't mean you don't benefit from them: the millions of people who do spend money both inside and out of the parks, which benefits local economies throughout the state and provides tax revenue.
Unless something radical has happened... Hearst Castle is the single largest Cash Cow for the State Park System... the revenue from Hearst Castle far exceeds the cost of operation...
Why should i pay for someone else to visit a state ? I just dont like the idea of these creeps taxing my car registration an additional 15.00 on top of the recent increase. Keep in mind the republicans are against new taxes & the legislature still need a 2/3 vote. I feel sorry for any republican that caves in again. It should be a pay as you go in the park thing. Im sick of being taxed & taxed in ca. My 85 olds is 24 yrs old & my tags are $67.00. Thats high enough but paying $82.00 yr is total BS. I also hate the strict & expensive smog laws here. I honestly believe the ca legislature are clueless.
My question regarding this park closing talk is this:
How much is the state paying these park workers?
If it's an obscene wage they need to look into getting new workers at a lower wage, not raising all of your auto registrations.
I would take a park job for 10 bucks an hour if it meant moving to California, but that would be MY choice, I don't think you all should have to pay more tax to keep the parks open since many of you don't use them. California simply needs to find ways to cut corners to keep the parks open.
They should close the gifts shops and all that and maybe just focus on keeping the liter, trash, and trails looking good. There are short cuts but people arent usually willing to "rough it" to make it happen.
Park Maintenance Worker I start off at $16.89 hr. and top out at $20.17 hr. usually after 5 years. Like the other poster said though, most of the "grunt" work is preformed by the Park Aides, who are only seasonal employees with no benefits. I should know as I did a season as a Park Aide. The Maintenance Worker I's were the most senior workers who did the most technical stuff like run the sewage and water plants, carpentry, electrical repairs, lead crews of "grunts", ect. Where I worked it was 1 Park Supervisor, 1 Equipment Operator, 4 Maintenance Worker 1's, 2 Park Maintenance Assistants and 8 Park Aides. This was at the Oceano Dunes OHV Park and Pismo State Beach in the 80's. Believe me when I tell you we couldn't keep up with the maintenance during the summer or big weekends.
Why should i pay for someone else to visit a state ? I just dont like the idea of these creeps taxing my car registration an additional 15.00 on top of the recent increase. Keep in mind the republicans are against new taxes & the legislature still need a 2/3 vote. I feel sorry for any republican that caves in again. It should be a pay as you go in the park thing. Im sick of being taxed & taxed in ca. My 85 olds is 24 yrs old & my tags are $67.00. Thats high enough but paying $82.00 yr is total BS. I also hate the strict & expensive smog laws here. I honestly believe the ca legislature are clueless.
My 85 Chevy Truck is around $200... I've paid over $5,000 in CA registration fees to drive 144,000 miles
This is on top of the fuel tax based on 11-12 mpg...
Why should i pay for someone else to visit a state ?
Out of state visitors have to pay to get in. Californians would not. You wouldn't be paying for other people to visit the state...they would pay to be here, and while they're here they spend money on other things like food and hotels and car rental.
Ultrarunner: Correct, Hearst Castle is not one of the 220 of 279 state parks that would close. The point is that California's state parks includes a whole lot more than just a few picnic tables and some trees--it is a diverse array of natural, historical and cultural sites.
I have no problem paying for parks and museums when I use them. They are a bargain for what you get. It's when they are free that you get ingrates trashing them.
Good point. I have noticed that too. I find myself going to the $4.00 admission parks just so I don't have to deal with the bassy cars and unleashed kids running screaming. I guess admission fees serve many purposes, never really looked at it like that before but pay parks do seem cleaner and more pleasant all around.
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