SC Gov. Haley Wants State Parks to Support Themselves

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley wants the state’s parks to generate enough revenue to cover their own operating expenses by the end of next year, The State newspaper reported Wednesday.

No state park system has managed to do this yet, but South Carolina parks and tourism officials expressed optimism that they can.

“I think we have to do it,” state Parks Director Phil Gaines told the newspaper. “The days are over of saying give me taxpayer money.”

South Carolina’s state park system, which is part of the state tourism agency, already goes a long way toward supporting itself. It went from covering 66 percent of its operating expenses in 2002 to 83 percent last year, The State reported. The state’s general fund contributions to park operations has dropped from $8 million to $4 million a year over that period.