value-added opportunities for enriching 

 visitor experiences, while preserving 

 existing paik values. 



Recommendation 9 : FWP should draft a 

 memorandum of understanding with the 

 Montana Heritage Commission to share 

 information and technical expertise. 



Recommendation 10 : Working with the 

 Montana Promotional Division, and 

 tailored to the mission and vision 

 statements on page 4, Parks Division 

 should develop a consistent, long-term 

 marketing plan for the state paric system. 

 Marketing may increase use of the parks, but 

 can also help to redistribute use away from 

 overcrowded parks. 



RecoiTunendation 11 ; Paries are 

 understaffed, and the system is unable to 

 maximize the quality of visitors' 

 experiences, resource and visitor 

 protection, benefits to local cotiununities, 

 and collection of fees. To reduce these 

 problems, Parks Division should: 



(a) Seek volunteers and financial sponsors 

 from "friends of the park" associations, 

 civic groups, businesses, and local 

 communities. 



(b) Encourage commercial and 

 entrepreneurial opportunities to provide 

 some visitor services in appropriate parks. 



(c) Seek resources for paid seasonal staff 

 to supervise volunteers based on 

 demonstrated need to conduct 

 interpretive and educational programs, site 

 maintenance, fee coUection, site control, 

 and visitor protection. 



(d) Gsntinue to develop partnerships with 

 other agencies and organizations to share 

 information, expertise, and staff, as 

 appropriate. 



Recommendation 12 : FWP and 

 volunteers should create a networit to link 

 all of the "friends of the parks" 



associations and foster best practices in 

 their work. 



Recommendation \3 : FWP should review 

 the adequacy of its tribal involvement 

 efforts and explore strategies and seek 

 opportunities for sharing dec is ion- making 

 authority and responsibilities through 

 govemment-to-govemment relationships. 



Funding 



Rationale for Funding Increase 



The Fumres Committee recognizes that 

 revenues into the Parks Division have been 

 flat for a number of years, while expenses 

 have been flat-to-slightly increasing. The 

 division is currently spending some of its cash 

 reserves. The Committee further recognizes 

 that, if revenues do not increase in the next 

 three years, and there are no new capital 

 improvements expenses, the Parks Division 

 will be operating with a minimal cash reserve 

 in 2005 and a deficit in 2006. The longer we 

 wait to address the problems described in this 

 report, including the projected parks budget 

 deficit, the more it will cost. 



The Futures Committee has included in this 

 report a statement by the Parks Division on 

 its funding needs (see Appendices G and H). 

 The Committee realizes that finding 

 additional funding will be difficult during the 

 current budget cycle, but also recognizes that 

 Parks Division needs more funding to meet 

 immediate needs and to achieve the mission 

 and vision of the parks system. The 

 committee also urges Parks Division to review 

 its internal allocation of funding to ensure 

 compliance with the budget priorities given in 

 Recommendation 15. 



Parks Division has an annual budget of about 

 $12 million, including operational and capital 

 costs, as well as parks, fishing access sites. 



State Parks Futures Cormittee, DeoemherJ, 2002 



