(The Center Square) – Cutting spending on state park improvements across Ohio could reduce potential economic impact in those areas, according to the majority of state economists who responded to a recent survey.
In the recently signed new state budget, lawmakers moved revenue generated from fracking that was used for park improvements to now cover park operating expenses.
That leaves little, if anything, in the budget to improve upon the 78 state parks that offer a variety of recreational activities. Admission is free to all Ohio state parks.
In a recent Scioto Analysis survey of 19 economists around the state, all said spending on parks is a good strategy to provide recreation, environmental quality and health.
“Ohio only has 0.77% of its land as state park and ranks 34th in the nation for federal or state lands,” said Kevin Egan, a professor at the University of Toledo. “The worst part is possibly reducing funding due to taxing fracking less. It is efficient to tax activities that cause pollution more and then using those tax dollars for public parks is a ‘double dividend.’”
At the same time, 14 of the 19 economists believe cutting public spending on state parks will eventually diminish those parks, potentially cutting economic impact gained through tourism.
“I think it can also attract out of state visitors which is where the real economic boom comes from as it introduces new spending into the economy rather than re-allocating current residents’ recreational money,” said Rachel Wilson, a professor at Wittenberg University.
But there comes a point where public spending might be too much, according to Ohio Wesleyan University Professor Will Georgic.
“There is an efficient level of public spending on state parks that is certainly greater than zero,” Georgic said. “However, there is some optimal level of spending on state parks beyond which further spending would be inefficient.”
