The federal government’s budget sequester is taking its toll on national parks across the country, including those here in South Dakota – where Badlands National Park is gearing up for the impact on this seasonal workforce.
Badlands National Park’s required five percent across-the-board budget cuts translate into a major reduction in what’s considered the heart of the park: seasonal employees.
Spokesperson Jennie Kish Albrinck says that seasonal work force supports every function in the Badlands.
“Losing twenty-four percent of our seasonal work force will cause us to take another look at how many interpretive walks and talks we offer,” Albrinck explains. “And in the shoulder seasons how many school programs we can offer. It will affect custodial services, road, fence and building repair and maintenance, science activities, research activities, natural resource monitoring and search-and-rescue operations.”
Three permanent positions on the Badlands Park staff must also remain vacant for the time being.
Albrink says staff duties will shift to support front-line visitor services first, but doing so will impact other necessary park operations.