White Paper: Survey of Illinois River Tourism Implications - Pending Legislation:

Commissioned by Save The Illinois River, Inc.  EcoLaw Institute, Inc., P.O. Box 1116, Stilwell, OK 74960.  Principal Investigator Kathy Tibbits, Esq., Kathy Tibbits Strategy and Policy Consulting;  About the author:  Kathy Tibbits has degrees in Political Science (OU, 1980) and Law (TU, 1983) with Water Law emphasis and ten years’ experience as a Strategy Team Writer and Policy Group Advisor to the Cherokee Nation. She is a member and Director for nonprofits EcoLaw Institute, Inc. and Save The Illinois River. She works as a private consultant and as an attorney, and is licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
 
Executive Summary


Ultimately, the questions are how we fund the state scenic rivers program if there is a commitment to tourism, and what the real cost would be to consolidate.

Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission was created as a state alternative to including the Illinois River in the National Wild And Scenic Rivers program, to allow commercial enterprise to develop for regional tourism of the unique stream.

Two bills in the 2011 Session would impact the tourism economy of the Illinois River Watershed. HB 1514 would reduce services or increase cost to manage the river for tourism. The proposed Governor’s Budget would cut funding 51.9%, yet OSRC is already diversified so just a third of its budget comes from the state. Just $349,239 would prevent the budget from adversely impacting the virtuous cycle of tourism revenues that would spiral downward if the existing skilled services are not provided.

Maintaining economic staisis for Illinois River Watershed tourism will take both actions:

1. Choosing Not To Consolidate and Centralize the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission.

2. Adequately funding $349,239 of the $700,000 by changing the Governor’s budget.

If the agency is consolidated, costs will be higher because locals are providing a wealth of services at only management cost. The skills performed will require new added state agency functions beyond the mission scope of OCC. The operational costs will be much higher and communications will be more difficult. Key services such as swiftwater rescue will be compromised. Tourism will decline when safety programs are dispersed.


If funding is inadequate, the existing leveraged and diversified funding from other grants, private gifts and public sources which are available to the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission will not be adequate to meet minimum expectations for tourism. As tourism declines, the state would face additional NE Oklahoma income tax and sales tax diminutions, and local governments would have reduced sales and property taxes.