Home > Uncategorized > Lawmakers consider privatizing, consolidating, “mothballing” state tourism attractions

Lawmakers consider privatizing, consolidating, “mothballing” state tourism attractions

Post on February 14, 2012 by Clayton Henkel 12 Comments »

A new report by the Program Evaluation Division of the General Assembly suggests the state could save almost $2 million annually by adopting public–private partnerships and restructuring the site-level management at North Carolina’s historic sites, as well as its zoo and aquariums.

The presentation was made Tuesday to the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee.

Among their recommendations for the Department of Cultural Resources:

coordinate site management at historic sites in Durham County

adopt a five-day schedule for most historic sites

close two sites (Museum of the Albemarle, Richard Caswell Memorial)

expand public–private partnerships with non-profits

expand fees to reduce reliance on state funds

For the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) the report recommends:

coordinate park management

record daily visitation data at all parks to determine potential savings from daily or seasonal closure,

adopt public–private partnerships with non-profits for the operations of the zoo and aquariums

expand public–private partnerships and fees to reduce reliance on state funds.

The move toward greater efficiencies follows major budget reductions for FY2011-12. The report notes the Department of Cultural Resources eliminated 51 positions and transferred more than 23 positions to receipt-funding last year due to $3.2 million in attraction-related reductions.

DENR’s attraction-related budget was reduced by $4.1 million, resulting in 33 positions eliminated from site operations and management.

The report goes on to warn further reductions would result in some sites being closed permanently, while others might be “mothballed” — with site artifacts stored away.

You can read the full 58-page report here.

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Comments (Closed):12

Gene Hoglan
February 14, 2012 at 2:11 pm
Wow gee willikers a whole $2 million! Who needs those stupid museums and historic sites when we got Supply Side Jesus.
James
February 14, 2012 at 2:24 pm
@ Gene

Thanks … I needed a chuckle today.
HunterC
February 14, 2012 at 4:57 pm
Nothing screams wisdom like mothballing history.
david esmay
February 14, 2012 at 5:05 pm
@ Gene
You have pulled back the curtain on the wizard.
Alex
February 14, 2012 at 5:41 pm
It’s a smart move to privatize as much as possible to get away from the long term pension and healthcare costs which almost double the true cost of a state employee over time..
James
February 14, 2012 at 6:18 pm
@ Alex

Oh yeah, that’ll solve all the problems. Instead of upholding contracts with people who have worked in public service for their whole lives, we can pull the rug out from under them and hope they die before they become homeless bums cluttering up your sidewalks.

Oh I forgot. The “free market” will take care of them. Right.
Alex
February 15, 2012 at 7:58 am
Sorry James, but the role of state government is not to provide cushy jobs for people to retire at age 50 with unrealistic pension and heathcare benefits. Both state and local governments are getting blasted by the benefit costs of these positions that is largely unfunded, and based on unrealistic investment goals.These jobs are just like the private sector, and cannot be afforded special status with the label “public service “
Pat McCoy
February 15, 2012 at 10:44 am
Maybe Exxon can sponsor the polar bear exhibit at the zoo.
gregflynn
February 15, 2012 at 11:21 am
One role of government is to keep promises. Since there are few, if any, cushy jobs in government, the promise of benefits is a hiring tool. The State Retirement system has been relatively well managed. Employees and employers pay into it based on actuarial calculations. To retire at 50 with full benefits you’d have to have worked for the government continuously since you were 20. There really aren’t many people that fit those criteria. Also, State Retirement benefits are intended supplement, not fully meet, retirement needs. There is an expectation that Social Security and personal savings and assets are part of the mix.
Gene Hoglan
February 15, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Closing the Museum of the Albemarle really puts an extra twist in the knife from Bill Owens voting to override Perdue’s budget veto, since he only did it to keep the place open. People who see themselves on a holy mission to destroy government can’t be negotiated with under any circumstances.
Joe Coletti
February 16, 2012 at 11:25 am
@Greg retirement benefits are not a recruiting tool, they’re a retention trap for people who have been working in government for a few years. State employees have to choose between minimal benefits and a better job or to stick with a job they may not like for another 10-15 years in hopes that the pension system is still solvent and can pay them their promised deferred compensation.

And if you don’t like the idea of closing these attractions or of Exxon sponsoring them, surely you can talk to James and others like him into donating some of their gains from the capitalist system marketing and consulting for Big Business.
gregflynn
February 17, 2012 at 5:09 am
Joe, as someone who has been in State government and in the private sector as both employee and employer I have to disagree with your opinion. Retirement benefits are both a recruitment and retention tool. This was acknowledged in the Future of Retirement Study Commission report, in which you participated, with discussion of attraction and retention of employees. “No members requested to have a minority opinion included in the final report”.