County Parks latest victim of weak economy

It's the familiar story of gas prices and a weak economy hurting yet another facet of life in Northeast Michigan. This time the victim is the Alpena County parks.

Revenue for the parks is about $10,000 lower during mid-August of this year compared to the same time last year.

Parks commission Chairman Gary Rondeau said, along with the poor weather conditions in the spring and early summer, gas prices have played a large role in the decline of revenue at the parks.

"You go around and look and see all the trailers that are for sale, and you know they're not moving them because the price of gas," Rondeau said.

Treasurer Joelyn McCallum said the parks haven't had a decrease in revenue in at least five years, but Labor Day weekend presents an opportunity to make up some of the current $826 deficit.

"We're hoping ... if we have a good weekend we can make up that $800 overall," McCallum said.

The parks system does have a savings account that can be used to pay for expenses when revenue isn't coming in from October through March. McCallum said that account ideally has around $100,000 in it, and right now it has $91,480.

Even if the parks end their year on Oct. 1 with an even fund balance, or even some excess money, that savings account will have to be used to pay for maintenance until next year.

"Something will definitely have to come out of that," McCallum said.

She said she is hoping at the end of the year the fund still has $75,000 in it.

Last October, expenditures exceeded revenues by $13,000. With numbers like that, the parks commission realizes it will have to be very careful with its money to keep from getting into trouble, McCallum said.

"The parks commission is really aware of what's going on," she said.

Rondeau said the parks commission is trying to keep a very lean budget to get through the lean year.

"We're just watching what we're spending. We've got our fixed costs - our managers - but we're not buying a lot of (extra) stuff," Rondeau said. "We're doing the general maintenance that we have to do, but nothing over and above."

Due to good years recently, and because of a built-up savings account, McCallum said the parks will be able to make it through this year without major difficulty, but the county can't afford to be in a similar situation in the years ahead.

Sean Harkins can be reached via e-mail at sharkins@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5688.