RALEIGH —To most people, $4 million is a lot of money.

On a $20 billion state budget, it amounts to two-hundredths of 1 percent.

That percentage ought to stick in the mind of state legislators as they continue discussing state park and museum closures.

The $4-million figure is what the legislature’s Program Evaluation Division estimates the state would save if it used more public-private partnerships to manage the state zoo and aquariums, closed a couple of museums in the eastern part of the state, reduced hours at other museums, and closed state parks for three months during the winter.

A report recently issued by the division makes some good points regarding common-sense measures that could save taxpayers money and lead to more efficient operations at these state-owned tourist attractions.

The authors, for example, note that some states take a more regional approach when it comes to the management of parks and historic sites. While North Carolina combines some staff to work at multiple state park locations, the report suggests that more staff consolidation could take place when sites are located near one another.

State officials also have been exploring the creation of public-private partnership to operate the state zoo near Asheboro for some time. The arrangement, where a private non-profit group manages operations, might actually result in a better experience for zoo visitors even if they don’t lead to any additional savings.

So, there are the positives.

Here is the big, fat negative: Museum and park closures, whether permanent or temporary, are going to come with a cost-benefit analysis that doesn’t exactly accrue in legislators’ favor.

Sure, some state museums may not be choke full of visitors. That doesn’t mean community leaders and local business owners don’t see museums and state historic sites as prime attractions that bring attention and visitor dollars to their communities.

Shutting down state parks for the winter — if those closures involve keeping people out — may be worse. The move might just do more to cut short political careers than any tax hikes or public school cuts.

If legislators doubt that is the case, they should go visit Fort Macon State Park or Jordan Lake State Recreation Area on a winter’s day. Unless it is raining or snowing, they won’t have trouble finding people using the parks.

They can quiz the people whom they run into about what kind of reaction they would have to being kept away from a favored outdoor haunt for three straight months.

After all, this is North Carolina. It’s not Maine or Alaska. People generally aren’t trapped in their homes by snow drifts. The sun doesn’t go off and hide for a month.

Every winter, we see 60- and 70-degree days.

Still, if legislators believe that two-hundredths of 1 percent is worth it, by all means, go ahead.

They just might find that they too have lots of time on their hands with no fun place to spend it.

Capitol Press Association