St. Louis County Executive Sam Page proposed next year's budget about two weeks ago. Among other things, it calls for the elimination of 139 County positions, including County park rangers.
Julie Irwin is the President of the Back Country Horsemen of Missouri St. Louis Chapter, a nonprofit that works with park rangers to keep parks and trails open. Irwin says the County's park rangers are already spread thin, and the proposal could reduce the current 34 rangers down to as little as 6. She says that number is not enough to answer the 85,000 calls the department has already received this year.
"Our police officers cannot possibly pick up all these call that are not going to be able to be answered with only 6 rangers for 72 parks," Irwin said.
She says the rangers weren't aware their jobs were at risk until the proposal was published.
The County Council is set to discuss the proposed budget at a meeting tonight in Clayton at 6 p.m.
Listen to the podcast above to learn more.
An advocate says that would reduce the number of rangers from thirty-four to six.
An advocate says that would reduce the number of rangers from thirty-four to six.
