Tourism officials, superintendents and small business owners in the Tri-Counties agree on one thing — shutting state parks, including 21 in the Tri-Counties, is the wrong way to cut the budget deficit.

They say closing the parks, a part of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s austerity program, will result in reduced sales tax revenue, lost jobs and less money for local governments.

“Closed parks will mean fewer visitors to the area and, in turn, fewer dollars spent in the local economy,” said Jim Luttjohann, executive director of the Ventura Visitor & Convention Bureau. “Most of those expenses the visitor would make are taxed, so the state will ultimately lose sales tax, as will local governments.”

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