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Steamboat Springs — A $3 million cut to the state parks system is forcing officials to make difficult decisions about proposals such as fee increases, but Routt County thus far has been spared from the most drastic decreases in spending.

Traditionally, the state Legislature has allocated about 10 percent of the state parks system's budget from the state general fund. For this fiscal year, which began July 1, the Legislature cut its share by 32 percent, or about 5 percent of the agency's total budget.

Colorado State Parks spokeswoman Deb Frazier said the agency is eliminating 12.5 positions, leaving vacancies open and cutting back on other expenses such as travel, administration, equipment and seasonal employees. Parks employees also must take mandatory furlough days instituted statewide.

The agency also is proposing increases to camping, reservation and boating registration fees. The Colorado State Parks Board will vote on the proposed increases at its board meeting Sept. 17 and 18 in Steamboat Springs. If approved, the new fees would take effect Jan. 1.

Last week, Colorado State Parks announced it would close Bonny Lake State Park in eastern Colorado from Oct. 1 to May 1.

"It's one of those parks that requires a bigger subsidy," Frazier said.

Managers at Stagecoach, Steamboat Lake and Pearl Lake state parks in Routt County are having their seasonal worker budgets cut by 10 percent and pinching pennies, but they aren't facing any major reorganizations or loss of full-time employees.

Craig Preston, manager at Stagecoach State Park, said one seasonal summer position - likely a maintenance job - will be eliminated. He said visitors might notice a difference but that the rest of the staff will try to pick up the slack.

"We'll try to make it as unnoticeable as possible," Preston said.

Otherwise, Preston said the park is "pinching pennies" by cutting back on travel, purchases and other expenses.

Steamboat Lake and Pearl Lake state parks manager Julie Arington said one winter seasonal position will be eliminated, and she is considering reducing hours at the Steamboat Lake visitors center in the summer.

"It won't compromise public safety at all, but it could be a customer service issue for some people," she said.

Assuming the proposed fee increases are approved, Frazier said the agency has made enough reductions to cover its budget cuts. But with the state's most recent projections showing a $318 million shortfall in the general fund budget for fiscal year 2009-10, which ends June 30, 2010, and a potential $1 billion shortfall in the 2010-11 fiscal year, there's no guarantee that additional cuts won't be needed.

"It all depends on what happens with Colorado's revenues, the state's economy, the national economy and certainly the state's funding priorities," Frazier said.

This year is Colorado State Parks' 50th anniversary. Colorado's 42 state parks total 242,531 acres of land and water, and they draw more than 11 million visitors a year.

- To reach Brandon Gee, call 367-7507 or e-mail bgee@steamboatpilot.com