State Parks study: parks supported about 5,100 jobs in New Mexico in 2024; director urges more operating funds

New Mexico State Parks supported an estimated 5,100 jobs and generated about $511 million in economic output in 2024, according to a presentation Tuesday to the Water & Natural Resources Committee.

The study, prepared by the Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University and presented by Dr. Kramer Winningham, analyzed FY2019–FY2024 park expenditures, visitor spending and non‑market benefits, including conservation and recreational use values. Dr. Winningham said the parks’ combined conservation and recreation values add hundreds of millions of dollars of annual social benefit beyond visitor spending.

Why it matters: Committee members pressed officials on staffing and long‑term funding after seeing the study’s figures. Director Toby Velasquez said capital investments and visitor spending multiply the state’s investment, but sustained operating support is needed to keep parks staffed, safe and accessible.

The report and context Dr. Kramer Winningham of NMSU’s Arrowhead Center described two analyses: an economic impact study (focused on out‑of‑state funding and visitors) and an economic contribution analysis (including all visitor spending). Visitor impacts were the largest driver. The report finds 5.2 million park visits in 2024 (up from 4.7 million in 2019), with visitor spending conservatively estimated at about $60 per person per day and recreational use value estimated at $99.82 per visit (2024 dollars).

Headline figures that Dr. Winningham and Director Velasquez summarized for the committee include: - 5,100 total jobs supported statewide in 2024 by park activity; - $511 million in revenue to New Mexico businesses attributed to park‑related spending in 2024; - $266 million contribution to state GDP in 2024; - $162 million in labor income and roughly $40 million in state and local tax revenue in 2024; - Non‑market values: $188 million annually for conservation value of park acreage and $528 million estimated recreational use value in 2024 (those two are presented as separate dollar‑value measures in the report).

Velasquez emphasized that state park expenditures are a small portion of the total contribution because the system leverages visitor spending and outside funding. He also listed financing sources: self‑generated revenues (camping, day use, concessions, marinas), dedicated taxes (GGRT and motor vehicle fuel tax), federal grants (U.S. Coast Guard, Bureau of Reclamation, Land and Water Conservation Fund) and general‑fund support.

Agency finances and capital work Velasquez told the committee the system has benefited from recent capital infusions. The division expended $20 million in ARPA funds by the federal deadline of 2025‑06‑30, renovated facilities at 32 of 35 parks, and deployed ICIP funds (62% of the FY25 ICIP allocation in year one). He said the FY26 ICIP program has roughly $40 million programmed and that the parks portion has allocated about $30 million toward outdoor restroom facilities, with remaining funds slated for water and wastewater work at sites such as Navajo Lake.

Operational concerns: staffing and vacancies Committee members pressed Velasquez on staffing and officer pay. Velasquez said the division employs 191 FTE and about 130 seasonal staff in summer, but currently has a 27% overall vacancy rate and a 38% vacancy rate in its certified law enforcement ranger positions. He said certified ranger starting pay for a trainee is approximately $23.50 per hour, with the state personnel system governing pay adjustments after training and experience. Velasquez told the committee that municipal and county pay competitions, plus signing bonuses in some local agencies, make recruitment and retention difficult for smaller state agencies.

Policy changes and programs implemented Velasquez told lawmakers the division implemented House Bill 161 (veteran fee authority) on July 1 and completed emergency rulemaking to honor resident veterans; since July 1 the division recorded 2,550 free camping nights to New Mexico veterans. The division also implemented free day‑use access for New Mexico residents from October through April as part of its revised fee schedule.

Committee reaction and questions Several members, including Representative McQueen and Representative Montoya, expressed support for increased operating funds and for pay parity with other state law enforcement employers. Senators and representatives also asked about the distribution of visitation, the scale of out‑of‑state visitors (which the presenters said is conservatively estimated because only online campsite reservations reliably track out‑of‑state addresses), and the prospects for more capital and operating support.

Ending note Velasquez closed by asking lawmakers for continued investment not only in capital projects but in the general operating fund to address inflationary costs, utilities, wages and the division’s high vacancy rate. He told the committee the parks division will continue to make the full report available electronically.