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disabilities on an equal basis with the 'rest of the general <br />public. Architectural barriers must be removed in existing <br />facilities to provide access to public areas. <br /> <br />HOW DOES FUNDING FOR NORTH CAROLINA'S STATE PARKS <br />COMPARE TO THAT IN OTHER STATES? <br /> <br />Currently, for every $100 spent by our state government only <br />eight cents is spent for state parks. North Carolina ranks 49th <br />in the nation in per capita spending for state parks operations. <br />Our state spends only $~.57 per person to operate our state <br />parks, while the average state in the Southeast spends $5.50 per <br />citizen. <br /> <br />WHY CAN'T STATE PARK NEEDS BE FUNDED THROUGH. THE <br />STATE'S ANNUAL BUDGET? <br /> <br />Over the past eight years, the North Carolina General Assembly <br />has made a strong effort to fund improvements for our state <br />parks. Unfortunately, this support has come at times when budgets <br />at all levels of government have been tight. After so many <br />decades of neglect, it is impossible to tackle the backlog of <br />'needs for state parks through reqular appropriations. <br /> <br />WHY CAN'T THE NECESSARY FUNDS BE RAISED THROUGH <br />REVENUE BONDS, WHICH ARE REP~4TD DIRECTLY BY THOSE WHO <br />USE THE FA CILITIES ? <br /> <br />Both public interest and long-standing policy dictate that public <br />parks and recreation areas be available to citizens at little or <br />no cost. Revenue bonds could not be repaid unless high entrance <br />fees and other charges were paid by park users. A state park or <br />recreation area would then be too expensive for many North <br />Carolina citizens. <br /> <br /> <br />