Cuts would slash river patrols

A proposed cut from the state could mean Yuma-area waterways would go unmanned with a sweep of a fund that provides funding to local sheriff's offices.

Yuma Sheriff's Maj. Leon Wilmot said the proposed cuts would have a big impact and it's a big concern to them. In Yuma, three positions are funded with that money, he said.

"We have nowhere to go right now. The general fund for the county is OK, but they don't have monies available to absorb that."

Under the plan, Arizona State Parks would be authorized to use all money in the Law Enforcement Boating and Safety Fund to operate state parks. The agency plans to close 13 parks and keep nine open due to budget cuts.

The Yuma Territorial Prison is one of the 13 the state will stop funding. The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area will take over after the state pulls out of its lease at the end of the month.

According to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the fund currently contains $2 million and is used to employ 26 boating officers throughout the state.

Capt. Eben Bratcher, spokesman for the Yuma County Sheriff's Office, said losing Yuma County’s officers assigned to keep watch on boaters would leave his department reacting to rather than preventing reckless behavior.

“The Colorado River is very popular and gets pretty rowdy,” he said. “If we are not able to fund officers to patrol it, it’s going to make it extremely dangerous out there.”

Ed Huntsman, boating education program manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, said there are already too few boating officers on patrol.

“If we could get more of them out there to interact with the folks who could use some help in understanding the proper ways of boating, it would be a lot safer out on the water,” he said.

In 2008, Arizona ranked seventh nationally in its number of boating accidents.

Rep. Warde V. Nichols, R-Gilbert, said local officials have every right to be concerned about cuts to boating enforcement and other programs. But he said people need to understand the challenges lawmakers face in addressing the budget.

“I can’t point to a silver bullet and say, ‘Hey, this is what we are trying to do,’” he said. “We are just trying to think outside of the box and figure out a way to keep everything together.”

Boating safety also was the focus of a bill that lawmakers shot down and another that a senator said she decided not to introduce because of the budget.

Rep. Russ Jones, R-Yuma, failed in an attempt to establish a $250 fine for boating offenses in hopes of encouraging offenders to change their ways.  

Monday, the full House rejected HB 2678.

Wilmot said he hopes the Legislature takes a "serious look" at the proposed cuts.

"When they're talking about raiding these funds, they should look at the impact they have on the counties before they sweep the funds," he said. "Don't risk public safety by raiding those funds."