SEQUIM — If a state budget is not finalized by June 30, state parks will close to the public beginning July 1 — forcing campers with Fourth of July plans to head elsewhere.
“If a budget is not signed, on June 30 campers will be told to leave the parks, and the gates will be locked,” said Terri McQuillen, senior park aide at Sequim Bay State Park west of the city.
“The Fourth of July vacation season starts July 1 [just] as reservations [would be] cancelled, and visitors forced to stay home or find other places to go.”
And park employees — along with more than 26,000 state workers — would be furloughed if a budget isn’t signed into law by midnight June 30.
Nick Brown, general counsel for the governor, said that dozens of agencies and other offices will either completely close or partially close under a government shutdown.
State parks would be completely shut down.
“We love our jobs,” McQuillen said. “State Parks are crown jewels in our state that provide healthy, family recreation. We get visitors from all over the world. We want to work and help people have memorable, fun vacations.”
The state has never had a government shutdown, but the Legislature has taken its budget talks to the brink before, including two years ago, when Gov. Jay Inslee signed a budget June 30.
Workers at agencies around the state — including those at Sequim Bay State Park — protested the situation Thursday, demanding that lawmakers get a deal done.
About eight people participated in such a rally at the entrance of Sequim Bay State Park, including park rangers from Fort Worden State Park near Port Townsend and Riverside State Park near Spokane.
The local rally was organized by the Washington Federation of State Employees.
“We ask the public to call 1-800-562-6000 and tell state senators to compromise and agree to a budget before July 1,” McQuillen said. “Ask them to support our state parks and fund us.”
The rally also was intended to bring attention to several ongoing issues facing state parks, including a move during former Gov. Chris Gregoire’s administration to make them self-sustaining.
“The agency cannot be fully self-supporting,” McQuillen said. “The Discover Pass revenue and other fee-based activities . . . are not enough to keep our parks system healthy and sustainable.
“As it stands today, the parks system is in decline and struggling to meet its mission. Parks are receiving minimum services and threatened with closure annually.”
There is currently a $470 million parks maintenance backlog with no long-term solution, she noted.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
