Sequester: Santa Monica National Parks branch could lose $425K

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Adam Karchmer gives ranger Anthony Bevilacqua a high five, while participants show off their prizes after completing the obstacle course at the Let’s Move physical fitness event at Paramount Ranch.  Children joined National Park Service rangers Iliana Espinoza and Anthony Bevilacqua at a “Let’s Move” physical fitness event at Paramount Ranch. The event included an obstacle course that consisted of biking, mountain climbing and a bean bag toss, all activities that take place in the National State Parks. After the obstacle course was completed, children received prizes for their efforts and then embarked on a nature walk. Let’s Move is a nationwide campaign launched by First Lady Michelle Obama to teach children about physical fitness and battle childhood obesity.

After polarized Washington lawmakers failed to cut a deal Friday to avoid $85 billion in national spending reductions, the federally funded Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) is facing a 5 percent budget reduction equaling more than $425,000 in cuts, according to a spokesperson for the SMMNRA.

The SMMNRA‘s annual budget is $8.5 million.

Kate Kuykendall, public information officer for the SMMNRA, said the Santa Monica office will have to enact an immediate hiring freeze for the foreseeable future and won’t be able to fill key staff vacancies that help coordinate volunteer programs and youth education programs.

“More than 6,000 young people who would normally come out and normally be in nature and in the mountains won’t get the chance to do that this year,” Kuykendall said. 

The department’s deferred maintenance costs, already at $6.7 million, are expected to increase as well. With less monetary resources to cover long-term projects such as road and building maintenance, maintenance staff will only be able to focus on short-term needs. 

“We’re gonna be so busy making sure we have toilet paper in our restrooms that we won’t have resources to devote to our roads, sewer systems and buildings,” she said.

Kuykendall estimated the department currently employs 100 people and has 10 vacant staff spots. One of those vacancies is for a volunteer program manager. Without anyone to manage volunteers, the SMMNRA is estimated to lose 4,000 hours of volunteer time.

“Volunteering with us usually takes the form of trail maintenance, garbage removal and removal of invasive plants,” Kuykendall said. 

President Obama reportedly signed a bill for $85 billion in reductions on Friday evening.