OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The State Parks Commission has told the legislature there's simply no way the park system can run without money from the state's general fund.

The Commission cares for 117 of the state's developed parks, including 35 heritage sites, 13 interpretive centers and more than 700 historic structures.

Commission spokesperson Sandy Mealing says they've had to drastically cut services due to budget cuts.

She says 66 full-time year-round ranger positions were reduced to seasonal positions this year...



The state parks board says it will ignore a legislative order and ask for $18 million for operations in the coming two year budget cycle.

The board adds that revenues from the Discover Pass program have been less than half of what was originally projected.