Georgia parks, historic sites deal with budget cuts
As vacationers in North Georgia travel to the area’s state parks and historic sites this summer, they might notice the effects of budget cuts and dwindling state support, some park managers said.
In fiscal year 2010, state appropriations to the Department of Natural Resources were cut by nearly 40 percent, which resulted in furloughs, reduced hours and reduced staffs, said Kim Hatcher, spokeswoman for Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites.
She said reductions for fiscal year 2011 weren’t as steep, but state agencies were recently asked to prepare for additional 4 percent cuts in August.
Randy Gambrell, assistant park manager at Vogel State Park in Blairsville, said travelers will continue to feel the effects of these cuts.