Alabama State Parks is considering a "state parks pass" for vehicles in response to a tight 2013 budget.
Without additional funding, Greg Lein, director of Alabama State Parks, says there could be layoffs and partial seasonal closures of some parks and golf courses. Lein says decisions on which operations could be affected will be made on a month-by-month basis.
Lein says his department is exploring the possibility of following other states and the federal government in offering park visitors annual vehicles passes that would cover certain fees. Since Alabama parks are not supported by state taxes, the money raised by the passes would be a direct source of operating revenue.
Although the plan is still in the works, passes could be in use as early as this summer.
