The continuing economic bad news from Island County is reaching out in unexpected places as county commissioners try to manage a $2.4 million budget deficit.

The latest concern deals with the South End park system, run partly by South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District, the Port of South Whidbey, the county and the state.

Already, the county has pared its 2009 park maintenance and operations by 57 percent, to $54,000.

“There are 50 parks in Island County,” said county parks director Steve Marx. “Some have full service needs, others are a simple trash can at a turnaround. We’re looking at ways to partner with anybody and everybody, with the end goal to preserve and maintain our park system.”

“If that means sharing assets or creating interlocal agreements with other agencies, so be it,” he said.

South Whidbey Park Commissioner Linda Kast understands what Marx is talking about.

“The county is looking for other entities — ourselves and the port — to assume responsibility,” she said.

And not just the county.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has three 25-year contracts with the county for maintenance of Deer Lake, Goss Lake and Lone Lake, two of which expire this summer and the third, early in 2010.

“Fish and Wildlife will want someone to take them over, and that probably means us,” Kast said.

Parks officials will meet next week to talk about parks within the district’s boundaries that are owned and managed by other government entities.

“I want district taxpayers to be aware that the state and county don’t have the resources to maintain all these facilities; they want someone else to assume the responsibility,” Kast said.

Kast said she wonders what will happen if the park district can’t or won’t take over the properties.

“We’re doing a great job with the parks we own, and have been fiscally responsible with the taxpayers’ money,” she said. “The public must tell us how they feel, which direction they want us to take. There’s a lot we don’t know yet and that’s why the meeting next week is so important.”

The parks board plans to bring all the stakeholders together to talk about the issue at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 20 at Bayview Community Hall.

One major interested party is the Port of South Whidbey.

Currently, the county splits ownership of three properties on the South End with the port: Freeland Park, Maxwelton Beach and the Mutiny Bay boat launch ramp.

The county is responsible for maintenance and operations while the port handles capital projects and acquisition.

“My question has to do with the role of the port on the properties it shares with the county and those we own outright, such as Clinton Beach Park, Possession and Bush Point,” said Port Commissioner Lynae Slinden.

“This meeting is a good opportunity to look at what exists and the best way for all of us to optimize our resources,” she added.

Commissioners plan to hear testimony from the state regarding the Deer Lake, Goss Lake and Lone Lake public access sites, the county’s parks department regarding park properties located on the South End, and Slinden will comment on park and open spaces located within the port district.

If the county asked the port to assume a bigger role, there would be a few road blocks.

“We couldn’t afford to take over their responsibilities, not without more money,” Slinden noted. “That would require a levy lift and I’m not sure voters would agree to that.”

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or jvanderford@southwhidbeyrecord.com.