Private Sponsorships Raise $70k for State Parks Department

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Officials with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation say they've used approximately $70,000 in private sponsorships to partially offset their depleted budget.

Director David Langhorst told a state budget writing committee that private businesses like Airstream and Cabela's have funded various programs in the department's first year of using cooperate sponsorships. Private sponsorships raised another $30,000 in in-kind donations in 2015.

The Idaho Legislature permitted the agency to seek private sponsorships last year after its budget was cut significantly during the economic downturn.

Department spokeswoman Jennifer Okerlund says the agency will continue to seek private sponsorships from businesses in upcoming years.

In total, the department is seeking no increase from the state's general fund for fiscal year 2017.