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WHERE THE FEES GO Yellowstone, Bighorn unveil budget reports New requirement gives public insight in each park's budget By MICHAEL MILSTEIN Gazette Wyoming Bureau Both Yellowstone National Park and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area have for the first time released their annual budgets as required by the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998, sponsored last year by Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo. A total of 42 percent, or $12.3 million, of Yellowstone's $30 million annual budget was spent on facility maintenance and operations, including plowing park roads, road and trail maintenance, campground care and utility operations. Visitor services, including law enforcement, firefighting, intepretation and visitor centers, consumed 32 percent of the budget, or $9.5 million. The park devoted 17 percent of its budget, or $5 million, to resource protection programs including wildlife and fisheries research and management and archaeological research and protection. "While Yellowstone has always had an 'open book' policy with respect to park budgets, we recognize that the complexities of the federal budget process preclude many people from understanding the financial ramifications of our stewardship responsibilities," said Yellowstone Superintendent Mike Finley. "This new requirement to provide public information fits hand in glove with an initiative that we have undertaken in Yellowstone." The initiative is the development of a new "business plan" for the park that he expects to unveil soon. Management and administration consumed 10 percent of the park's budget, or about $3.1 million. While most of the park's funding comes from Congress, the park received 23 percent of its operating budget, or $6.3 million, from entrance and other fees. Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area also released the details of its $2.2 million budget for fiscal 1999. The budget included $217,500 for resource preservation and management, plus an additional $55,000 in revenues from new entrance fees for three specific projects: $20,000 for preservation of the park's four historic ranches, $20,000 for wildlife habitat restoration and $10,000 for control of noxious weeds. Another $537,700 was allocated for visitor services, including interpretation and law enforcement. In addition, $47,450 in entrance fee revenues was devoted to three projects: $19,950 for rehabilitation of interpretive exhibits, $15,000 for new wayside exhibits and $12,500 for improvements at Three Mile launch area, Barry's Landing and Horseshoe Bend. Maintenance and facility operations consumed $834,300 plus another $10,000 in fee revenues, which will go to repair and upgrade fencing at Ok-A-Beh Marina. Management and administration of the recreation area took $556,200. Of $139,450 in fee revenues, $112,450 went to specific projects while $27,000 was spent to administer the projects. Bighorn Canyon employs 28 full-time employees and 33 part-time employees. Personnel costs account for 71 percent of the park's budget. A copy of Bighorn Canyon's annual performance plan is available by writing to Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Attn: Administrative Officer, P.O. Box 7458, Fort Smith, Mont. 59035.
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