Crystal Cove restoration money secure

Paul Clinton

CRYSTAL COVE -- Money to restore the 46 cottages at the state park is

fairly secure, even with the $24-billion state budget shortfall and a

stalemate on the new year’s budget, officials said.

The $9.2 million in bond funds, $2.8-million gift from the California

Coastal Commission and $1.1 million for short-term repairs should be

protected as Republicans call for spending cuts.

That would allow at least $13.1 million to restore the rustic but

deteriorating cabins sitting on the beach.

However, the state Assembly hasn’t passed the budget, so Gov. Gray

Davis might be forced to make some compromises to get approval on his

final budget for the fiscal year that began Monday.

“Preserving environmental concerns is a high priority for Gov. Davis

during this budget,” Davis spokesman Byron Tucker said. “However, he is

reserving the right to blue pencil projects if needed.”

Bond funding approved by voters as part of Proposition 40, which

passed in March, can’t be spent indiscriminately. The money, including

the $9.2 million, is allocated to specific uses and doesn’t flow through

the general fund, making it tougher to strip.

California State Parks leaders have also said they are counting on

$500,000 -- about half of the $1.1 million -- for interim repairs until a

final plan can be put in place for the beachfront cottages. That plan is

expected in September.

Davis has included the money in the agency’s deferred maintenance

fund, where money is drawn and used to repair existing structures. For

the last year, since the former residents were evicted from their homes,

state workers have been mothballing the cottages. They’ve been fixing

leaky roofs, installing plexiglass over windows and securing the cabins.

Five of the cabins have already been completely restored for use by

parks lifeguards, security personnel and rangers.

The $500,000 is needed to finish those interim repairs, parks

spokesman Roy Stearns said.

“There’s no guarantee,” Stearns said about the availability of the

money. “But there’s no indication that anybody is going to raid that

money.”

Assemblyman John Campbell, who represents the cove and Newport Beach,

also said he considered all the funding safe from possible budget

cutbacks.

“Nobody is proposing to fiddle around with the expenses of State

Parks,” Campbell said. “It’s pretty safe.”

* Paul Clinton covers the environment, John Wayne Airport and

politics. He may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

paul.clinton@latimes.comf7 .