The Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club has significant reservations about the proposal to privatize certain operations within our state parks and without further justification for such action, stands in opposition to it. We have to ask why? Just a few years ago Tennessee state parks won the Gold Medal Award for excellence in park and recreation management, the highest honor a park system can received. Our state parks system also was named the best state parks system in the country by the National Parks and Recreation Association. What has changed since then that would justify privatization?
It is reported that the facilities within the parks operate on a break even basis now. A private entity would only be interested in operating these facilities if a profit could be made. Our state parks should not be used as a source of profit for executives and stock holders. Any profits that can be generated from park operations should be plowed back into the system to help maintain the facilities. The system has a long list of maintenance needs.
The issue of privatization of public facilities and services has been pressed for many years now. While some success stories can be found, many more stories have developed over reduction of services and taxpayers losing out. When governments outsource public services, typically workers lose their jobs. Those who get to keep their jobs are often forced to deal with harsh working conditions and lower wages. A good example is available here in Tennessee. When Shelby County schools contracted out janitorial services, the promised cost-effective agreement proved otherwise when principals complained that the schools were not being properly cleaned, and contract workers claimed they had been shorted on pay. The “cost cutting” contract cost 750 school jobs.
Other horror stories come out across the country. Chicago privatized its parking meter revenue stream for 75 years. Right away meter rates went up fourfold, and meters stopped working. Indiana privatized I-90 for a 75 year period in 2006. Since then, tolls have about doubled, and the company can raise the toll annually a certain percentage. Even worse, in 2007, Colorado leased its Northwest Highway to a foreign company for 99 years. Tolls were raised by 50%, and taxpayers must pay the company if too many carpoolers use the high-occupancy lanes. The state can’t even build other facilities in the area to reduce traffic congestion that would compete with the Northwest Highway without payments being made to the corporation.
The Tennessee state parks provide protection for our outstanding resources, free or low cost outdoor recreation opportunities for citizens across the state, and good economical locations for meetings and conferences. They also provide jobs for Tennesseans in many economically distressed counties. None of that should change. Please protect the Tennessee state parks.