UPDATE: Funds Provided to State Parks

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www.rboc.org

"Boaters Urge Full Investigation and Accounting of Funds Provided to State Parks

Sacramento [July 20] ГЇВїВЅ responding to breaking news reports alleging $53 million in hidden funds at the state Department of Parks and Recreation, the California boater advocacy organization Recreational Boaters of California is urging state policy leaders and legislators to conduct a thorough investigation and audit of boater funds provided to the state Department of Parks and Recreation.

Stated RBOC President Cleve Hardaker: ГЇВїВЅThese news reports are of great concern. CaliforniaГЇВїВЅs boaters provide significant funding to State Parks through park entrance fees as well as fuel tax dollars totaling close to $30 million per year. It is essential that boaters have confidence that the funds we pay the state are used wisely and effectively.ГЇВїВЅ

Continued Hardaker: ГЇВїВЅWe encourage boaters to contact their legislators in the Senate and Assembly, urging them to take action and demand a full accounting of boater funds that have been directed to State Parks.ГЇВїВЅ To find your legislator click here or visit: http://www.rboc.org/my_legislator.html

The integrity of State Parks is even more important to boaters following the July 3 enactment of the GovernorГЇВїВЅs Reorganization Proposal Number 2 [GRP #2] that places the Department of Boating and Waterways into State Parks as a division, effective July 1, 2013.

Hardaker emphasized that: ГЇВїВЅWe will remain engaged and vigilant on these fiscal issues over the course of the next twelve months, and additional action including legislation may be warranted. RBOC will continue our advocacy efforts to preserve and enhance the interests of the recreational boating community.ГЇВїВЅ

For more information, we invite you to visit the Recreational Boaters of California website, RBOC.org or follow us at Twitter.com/rboc.org or Facebook.com/rboc.org.

Jerry Desmond, Jr.
Director of Government Relations
Recreational Boaters of California
www.RBOC.org
p 916.441.4166
f 916.441.3520

 

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RBOC Supports Legislature's Decision to Audit State Parks

August 8

Sacramento [August 8] – the boater advocacy organization Recreational Boaters of California [RBOC] is supporting the decision of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee [JLAC] this afternoon to accept the bipartisan request of Assembly Members Beth Gaines and Paul Fong, and Senator Noreen Evans, to conduct a comprehensive audit of the finances of the state Department of Parks and Recreation [State Parks].

This action follows numerous accounts revealing that State Parks management staff took advantage of a costly vacation buyout, and that State Parks had $54 million in surplus money hidden for more than a decade.

Stated RBOC President Cleve Hardaker: “the Legislature has taken prudent action to initiate an independent audit of State Parks vacation buyouts and hidden surplus funds. This audit will investigate how the funds were generated, where they have been hidden, how they have accumulated, and how the state can take corrective action to rectify this situation and prevent similar actions in the future. The State Auditor will begin this process immediately.”

Continued Hardaker: “The allegations of financial mismanagement at State Parks are of great concern. California’s boaters provide significant funding to State Parks through park entrance fees as well as fuel tax dollars totaling close to $30 million per year. It is essential that boaters have confidence that the funds we pay the state are used wisely and effectively. We are optimistic that this audit will provide the transparency and accountability that are essential if we are able to reestablish boater confidence and trust in State Parks.”

With this action by the JLAC, the State Auditor will conduct an audit that will begin immediately. While an audit of this scope typically takes an expected seven months [2,900 hours] to complete, the State Auditor will attempt to re-allocate resources to expedite the effort.

The state Department of Parks and Recreation has expressed its support for the audit and its commitment to fully cooperate.

Jerry Desmond, Jr.
Director of Government Relations
Recreational Boaters of California
www.RBOC.org

DESMOND & DESMOND
925 L Street, Suite 220
Sacramento, CA 95814
p 916.441.4166
f 916.441.3520