By Craig Harris
The Arizona Republic
Arizona Parks Director Bryan Martyn said his agency has “critical funding issues” and is asking for additional state funding of about $15.5 million for capital projects, operations and staff.
Martyn, a self-described fiscal conservative who is just a few months into the parks job, has asked Gov. Jan Brewer, a fellow Republican, for the additional money in the fiscal 2014 state budget, which begins next July 1.
“Arizona State Parks is a car running down the road 100 miles per hour with bald tires,” said Martyn, who became parks director May 1. “We need money for tires and gas.”
Matthew Benson, a spokesman for Brewer, said the governor and her budget team will weigh Martyn’s proposals.
