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Idaho parks request $9.8M transfer, staff and capital funds as director outlines projects and a 677‑acre purchase
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Summary
At a Joint Finance hearing, the Department of Parks and Recreation requested a $9.8 million supplemental transfer tied to last year’s program consolidation, sought personnel and one‑time enhancements for FY2027, and outlined major projects — including a newly purchased 677‑acre property in Lemhi County the agency says can open to the public by June.
Susan Buxton, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, told the Joint Finance Corporation Committee that the agency is asking lawmakers to approve a supplemental transfer of $9,800,000 to move grant funds into the newly consolidated park operations program so previously awarded grants can be reflected as spent.
The request accompanies a slate of FY2027 enhancements the agency says are primarily funded from dedicated funds and one‑time federal money; Buxton and a legislative analyst described the proposals as focused on additional park personnel, trail maintenance, utilities and RV/campsite upgrades rather than new general‑fund commitments.
The transfer is a bookkeeping step tied to last year’s consolidation, Janet Jessup, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, told the committee: "the total amount that would be affected is $9,800,000." She said the transfer would be acted on alongside FY2027 enhancements but would affect the current fiscal year.
Why it matters: agency officials say the investments deliver more usable capacity and safer facilities at heavily visited parks while also generating revenue. Buxton emphasized the broader economic role of parks in Idaho: "the economic impact of outdoor recreation in Idaho has gone from over $4,000,000,000 to now over $5,500,000,000," she told the committee, citing statewide visitation gains.
Capacity and projects: Buxton outlined a string of recent and planned projects designed to add capacity and address deferred maintenance. She said the agency now projects about 339 new developed campsites, roughly 346 additional docks and dozens of new or upgraded day‑use areas from recent investments in deferred maintenance and new construction. Project examples Buxton described included:
- Ponderosa State Park (McCall): restoration of an old chapel into an event center, replacement of dilapidated cabins with six new group cabins and new group‑use amenities; added accessibility features. - Rocky Point Lodge (Hayburn State Park, Lake Coeur d’Alene): renovation of a shuttered CCC‑era building into rental and event space. - Chacalette/Chacollete Marina and other dock repairs along the Trail of Coeur d’Alenes: dock replacements and pilings to restore public boat slips and safety. - Priest Lake: road and parking repairs and additional day‑use access to reduce overcrowding and improve emergency access.
Fees and reservation changes: Buxton said the agency has shifted to a more mobile‑friendly reservation system and increased fees for out‑of‑state users in many parks, with the stated goal of opening more slots for Idaho residents. She said the University of Idaho is studying the fee changes and that early results and internal observation show mixed effects: the fee change has brought in about $1 million so far, below earlier LSO projections of approximately $4 million, and some parks have seen different fill‑rate impacts in high and low seasons.
New acquisition: Buxton described a recent purchase the agency calls Twin Peaks, a 677‑acre parcel in Lemhi County near Salmon acquired for $4.7 million. She said the property includes guest lodging (24 private overnight units and staff housing), water, power and fiber, and a warm spring; the agency’s pro forma prepared by a board member shows the site could pay for itself at about 30% occupancy and the agency expects it could be available to the public by June.
Outreach and safety: Buxton highlighted an off‑highway vehicle (OHV) public‑education campaign using radio, video and social media and an OHV Academy to train local sheriffs on enforcement and safety. She also described ADA access investments and other measures aimed at balancing safety with increased use.
What the committee asked: members questioned whether vacancy savings could cover requested FTP changes, how out‑of‑state pricing affects fill rates, and how revenue estimates for new properties were calculated. Buxton said many vacancies have been filled within about 35 days and that some enhancement requests convert fractional positions to full‑time roles; she offered to provide the University of Idaho study to committee members for further detail.
Next steps: The committee will consider the supplemental transfer and FY2027 enhancement requests as part of its budget work. Buxton invited committee members to visit new and renovated park sites to review facilities and pro forma assumptions.
