racheleggert
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Posted on Wed, Nov. 10, 2004
Pawlenty sees options other than museum fee
Governor says History Center could close unpopular sites
BY BILL SALISBURY
Pioneer Press
Gov. Tim Pawlenty thinks the Minnesota Historical Society is trying to pull an old National Park Service trick.
According to political lore, when federal officials suggest cutting the park service's budget, the agency threatens to shut down the Washington Monument — a move so unpopular that it scares would-be budget cutters into backing down.
Pawlenty suggested at a Capitol news conference Tuesday that he suspects the historical society is doing the same thing by announcing it will start charging admission to museum exhibits at its popular Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. A society spokeswoman denied the agency is bluffing to get more money.
Lory Sutton, the society's marketing and communications director, said Monday the fees are needed to offset $5 million in budget cuts made by governors and the Legislature since 2001.
But Pawlenty thinks the society could cut costs by closing some sites that are less popular than the History Center museum. "They have a lot of sites and a lot of property," he said. They should "keep open the ones that people actually go to." The society operates 25 sites and museums.
Sutton said the society tried to implement Pawlenty's suggestion last year, but it was rejected. After its budget was cut, the society proposed closing seven sites.
"We had a public outcry like you've never seen," she said. Citizens and legislators demanded that the sites be kept open, and the society did so by cutting its preservation and restoration work to a "bare minimum," she said.
It plans to start charging fees, ranging from $4 for children to $8 for adults, for History Center exhibits starting early next year.
Pawlenty sees options other than museum fee
Governor says History Center could close unpopular sites
BY BILL SALISBURY
Pioneer Press
Gov. Tim Pawlenty thinks the Minnesota Historical Society is trying to pull an old National Park Service trick.
According to political lore, when federal officials suggest cutting the park service's budget, the agency threatens to shut down the Washington Monument — a move so unpopular that it scares would-be budget cutters into backing down.
Pawlenty suggested at a Capitol news conference Tuesday that he suspects the historical society is doing the same thing by announcing it will start charging admission to museum exhibits at its popular Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. A society spokeswoman denied the agency is bluffing to get more money.
Lory Sutton, the society's marketing and communications director, said Monday the fees are needed to offset $5 million in budget cuts made by governors and the Legislature since 2001.
But Pawlenty thinks the society could cut costs by closing some sites that are less popular than the History Center museum. "They have a lot of sites and a lot of property," he said. They should "keep open the ones that people actually go to." The society operates 25 sites and museums.
Sutton said the society tried to implement Pawlenty's suggestion last year, but it was rejected. After its budget was cut, the society proposed closing seven sites.
"We had a public outcry like you've never seen," she said. Citizens and legislators demanded that the sites be kept open, and the society did so by cutting its preservation and restoration work to a "bare minimum," she said.
It plans to start charging fees, ranging from $4 for children to $8 for adults, for History Center exhibits starting early next year.