State parks forced to trim ranger jobs in the new year

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- By February of 2012, the Washington State Parks Department will trim as many as 83 of its 189 ranger jobs.

Some of those 83 rangers will be offered part time jobs, others will be laid off. Department leaders say it's the only way they can handle serious cuts in the budget, blaming it on the poor economy.

Cash-strapped residents are not using the parks as much as they used to, so the fees aren't coming in as expected, nor is money expected from the state's new Discover Passes for parking. Fewer residents are buying the $30 annual pass than they hoped.

The response was to send out notices to rangers that their days may be numbered. Pratt said that will leave just one ranger on duty at a time to serve visitors to both Dash Point and Saltwater State Parks.

Some state lawmakers have criticized the cuts but unless they can find an alternate funding source, the cuts take affect January 31, 2012.

At Dash Point State Park Friday, only a few campsites are filled, but rangers still went about their work, cutting down hazard trees.

"This is the kind of work we do during the winter months," said Ranger Lem Pratt who manages the Dash Point and Saltwater State Parks.

After the cuts, the ranger count at those two parks will drop from a combined seven full time rangers to three.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45830579/ns/local_news-seattle_wa/

gloria allred black friday ads 2011 black friday ads 2011 pacquiao vs marquez pacquiao vs marquez junior dos santos junior dos santos