It looks as though the Heritage Fund is safe for the 2002 budget. However, the Legislature will be working on the 2003 budget during the next couple of weeks. The 2003 budget will go into effect in July 2002. The Parks Board has asked the staff it look into its options if the Heritage Fund is lost. These options include the suspension of ALL Grant programs (including Local, State & Regional Parks, Trails and Historic Preservation), the closure of up to 10 of the 30 State Parks, and layoffs of Parks employees. The Heritage Fund supplies the funding for 90% of the Game & Fish department non-game programs. The Arizona Heritage Alliance has started an on-line petition to Save the Heritage Fund. Please, pass this information on to your members. We need at least 500 more signatures! If you have not called, emailed or written you Legislators, please do so and ask them to leave the Heritage Fund intact. (To sign our petition or for a link to the Legislative web site check our web site at www.arizonaheritagealliance.org ) Again, thank you for your support and help. You are subscribed to AZ-LEADER. To post to this mailing list, simply send email to az-leader@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send email to az-leader-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.