* 1999-00 through 2001-02 reflect enacted appropriations.
* 2002-03 and 2003-04 reflect Executive recommended appropriations.

The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) provides safe and enjoyable recreational and interpretive opportunities for all New York State residents and visitors at 167 parks and 35 historic sites across the State. The Office also hosts cultural and education programs, and provides a variety of recreational programs, including the Empire State Summer and Winter Games. The parks and historic sites serve over 60 million visitors annually.

The Office is included in the Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation appropriation bill.

State Operations

The Executive recommends All Funds appropriations of $161,683,300, a net decrease of $1,224,600 from SFY 2002-03 levels. The Governor proposes an overall staffing level for the Office of 1,562 full-time equivalent positions in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2003-04. This staffing level represents a net decrease of 113 positions from SFY 2002-03 enacted levels due to a reduction of 50 positions in SFY 2002-03 and 63 positions in SFY 2003-04. The reduction in workforce is expected to be met through an early retirement incentive within the Office.

The Governor recommends General Fund State Operations appropriations of $92,191,000,a decrease of $15,701,000. This decrease is due to the following:

• a $10.7 million decrease in Personal Service costs, including $5.6 million attributable to the early retirement incentive, a shift of $1 million to the Environmental Protection Fund in the Department of Environmental Conservation reflecting the shift of 18 positions, and $4.1 million from savings related to the shift of operation and maintenance costs at Art Park, Coles Creek, Niagara Reservation State Park and Robert Moses State Park to the New York State Power Authority (NYPA); and

• a $5 million decrease in Nonpersonal Service costs, including $2.5 million attributable to General Fund savings from an administrative increase in user fees at State parks, $2.35 million from costs savings related to the shift of operation and in maintenance costs to NYPA at the four State parks mentioned above, and $150,000 from projected additional revenues generated at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC).

The Governor recommends Special Revenue Other State Operations appropriations totaling $61,953,200, an increase of $14,431,400 attributable to the following:

• a $6.6 million increase for personal service in the Patron Services Account. This increase is comprised of $4.1 million related to NYPA's operational and maintenance cost payments, $2.3 million for Jones Beach Theatre reflecting the movement from a maintenance undistributed appropriation in SFY 2002-03 to a Personal Service appropriation in SFY 2003-04, $150,000 from expected increased revenue from SPAC and $50,000 in additional costs due to changes of certain park hours;

• a $6.4 million increase for nonpersonal service expenses in the Patron Services Account. This increase is comprised of $2.5 million from an administrative user fee increase at State parks, $2.35 million related to NYPA's operational and maintenance cost payments, $1.4 million for Jones Beach Theatre costs and $150,000 from expected increased revenues from SPAC; and

• a $1.4 million increase for fringe benefits related to NYPA and Jones Beach Theatre.

Aid To Localities

The Governor recommends All Funds appropriations of $14,240,000 in SFY 2003-04, a net decrease of $28,687,220 or 67 percent below SFY 2002-03 levels. This net decrease is due to the following:

• the elimination of $24.8 million in General Fund appropriations for various Community Projects Fund projects;

• a $5.2 million decrease in General Fund appropriations from the elimination of funding for the Natural Heritage Trust Program. Included within this reduction is a $4,952,000 decrease related to the transfer of the Zoos, Botanical Gardens and Aquaria (ZBGA) Program to the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), which is included in the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) budget, and a $250,000 reduction in funds to repair and restore New York State Division monuments at the Gettysburg Battlefield;

• a $1 million increase in Special Revenue-Federal Funds from the Miscellaneous Grants Account for services and expenses for recreation projects including the acquisition, development and rehabilitation of municipal parklands and facilities; and

• a $300,000 increase in Special Revenue-Other Funds appropriations for the Snowmobile Trail Development and Management Account related to fee increases enacted in SFY 2002-03.

The Governor recommends All Funds Capital Projects appropriations of $43,305,000 in SFY 2003-04, a net increase of $2,465,000 above SFY 2002-03 levels. This net increase is due to the following:

• new appropriations of $29,605,000 in the State Parks Infrastructure Fund (SPIF), a decrease of $35,000 from SFY 2002-03 levels. The Executive proposes to authorize a suballocation of up to $10,000,000 from the Environmental Conservation to fund State Parks Infrastructure Fund projects. EPF resources in the same amount were used to support State Parks Infrastructure Fund in SFY 2002-03 also. This Fund consists of dedicated park revenues to support the maintenance, improvement and rehabilitation of park facilities. Spending from the Fund will be reduced by $4.5 million due to the elimination of an annual General Fund transfer into the Fund; and
• a $2,500,000 increase in Federal Capital Projects funding for the acquisition of property and for the construction, expansion, and rehabilitation of state facilities for recreation.

Article VII

The Executive proposes legislation to double triennial boat registration fees. The fee for vessels up to 16 feet in length would increase from $9 to $18, the fee for vessels between 16 feet and 26 feet in length would increase from $18 to $36 and the fee for vessels over 26 feet in length would increase from $30 to $60. It is estimated that this fee increase would generate $1.3 million in SFY 2003-04 and $2.7 million each year thereafter for the General Fund and reimbursement to counties for Navigation Law enforcement.