The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department has been attempting to balance a budget with a $12 million dollar gap for over a year. Due to the economic downturn the parks department has found it difficult to mend the budget shortfall and the park's board recently approved a tourist tax that will affect out of town City Tourists. San Francisco's botanical gardens and Coit Tower are the tourist attractions that will charge the tax and the city also plans to place more concession stands in city parks as well.
Along with the tourist attraction tax the board officials proposed an ice rink in Civic Center Plaza, metered parking in Golden Gate Park and the sale or leasing of surplus public property. The tax along with the other proposal measures will still require approval by the Board of Supervisors and the sale of surplus property will need voter approval as well. The goal of the San Francisco Parks Department is to generate revenue instead of making budget cuts as done in previous years.
