The State Parks and Recreation Commission will focus on finances when it meets Thursday. The commission will get updates on the effort to create partnerships and find new ways of doing business for greater sustainability, the agency’s budget and the Discover Pass.
The commission will receive a progress report on an initiative to change the way State Parks does business and become more financially sustainable over time, said a news release. During the past 18 months, the agency partnership and planning program has been working on two major fronts to transform the agency’s operations with explorations of new business and enterprise approaches.
An agency revenue and efficiency task force been looking at reducing expenses and increasing revenues in five different areas: operational efficiencies, service-related fees, business and new enterprise, philanthropic support and government grants and cooperative initiatives.
As part of this effort, a new partnership program made up of existing employees is focusing on greater collaboration with the Washington State Parks Foundation, a nonprofit that supports state parks and programs through fundraising and other supportive activities.
These efforts include expanding statewide volunteer programs; increasing the number and capacity of friends groups; improving coordination and success on grant requests; developing and strengthening interagency and nonprofit partnerships; enhancing philanthropic fundraising and securing sponsorships.
The commission also will hear reports on the Discover Pass, including revenues, refinements and marketing for the agency and pass.
Reserve funds: The commission will also consider a new policy that allows the agency to hold in reserve no less than two months of critical expenditures. The commission has had an informal policy that set the reserve fund level at three months of operating expenses.
Work session: A work session is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Moran Room at Washington State Parks Headquarters, 1111 Israel Road S.W., Tumwater.
When: The meeting is to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday.
Where: Washington Department of Labor and Industries Auditorium, 7273 Linderson Way S.W., Tumwater.
Agenda: A full agenda is at parks.wa.gov/agency/commissionmeetings.
To learn more
Washington State Parks Foundation: wspf.org
Discover Pass: DiscoverPass.wa.gov
State park system: parks.wa.gov.
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