Sharing of budget money reminds me of a pack of lions feeding on a carcass. The biggest lion, our federal government, gets to eat first.

After it is full, the funding carcass gets passed down to the next most powerful lions in the chain - the states. After their spending appetite is satisfied, the money carcass is passed down for local municipalities and school districts to pick at.As we see in our current economic environment, state and local budgets have been picked clean, right down to the bare-bone essentials. Being able to just survive and balance a budget in this poor economy is something that requires a great deal of creativity and resourcefulness from our elected leaders.Revenue cuts have affected areas which many of us take for granted, including our parks. Two years ago, Pennsylvania's state parks began feeling the budget restraints and consequently, had to reduce staff and much to the chagrin of the public, their operating hours.Gov. Tom Corbett recently unveiled a plan to help fund the parks by bringing in partners from the private sector. Being able to contract out for services is a major revenue booster, as is the use of nonprofit associations to raise money and conduct park operations. A review of this proposal is seen under today's viewpoint article by Katrina Currie.The idea of partnering with the private sector is not new. Since the 1980s, New York's Central Park has been managed by a nonprofit conservancy and has relied on private donations to meet most of its budget. Those who have studied that partnership are surprised at how little tax money is being used to maintain the park, one of the most recognized open air showplaces in the world.With budget cutting a driving force, many New York officials wonder if this same public-private partnership can be used in other areas, such as neighborhood parks.The Salt Springs State Park, located about six miles north of Montrose in Susquehanna County, hits closer to our rural home. The only privately managed park in our commonwealth, it has been maintained by the Friends of Salt Springs Park for the past 17 years.When the state could not afford to maintain or improve the park, the nonprofit organization stepped up. It has designed and paid for most of the renovations and improvements to park facilities and have designed and implemented all of the park's programs and events.When some historic structures were on a list to be razed, local citizens again stepped up to the plate as well as supporters for historical and environmental preservation.The Friends are supported by memberships, public and private agency grants, business donations, donations of materials and services, special events, and program fees for educational services. Through the private sector, they have been able to purchase adjoining lands, which has allowed them to more than double the area open to the public for hiking, camping, hunting, recreation, and education.The governor deserves credit for thinking outside the box. In light of the constant bickering we hear in Washington - with party politicians on both sides of the aisle accusing each other about not having a plan of attack on the budget deficit - the parks idea is certainly worthy of review.By Jim Zbickjzbick@tnonline.com