California State Parks Director Ruth Coleman resigned this morning and her second in command has been fired after officials learned the department has been sitting on nearly $54 million in surplus money for as long as 12 years

◼ The department sat on the money for unknown reasons even as it carried out, over the past year, the unprecedented closure of 70 parks to satisfy state budget cuts. - Matt Weiser/Sacramento Bee

The Bee began inquiring about rumors of a surplus when it learned about the buyout, and submitted a Public Records Act request for the fund data on Wednesday.

John Laird, secretary of the state Natural Resources Agency, which oversees State Parks, told The Bee that investigations have been launched by both the Attorney General's office and the Department of Finance to figure out how -- and why -- the Department of Parks and Recreation squirreled away so much money for so long....

The surplus money consists of $20.3 million in the Parks and Recreation Fund, and $33.5 million in the Off Highway Vehicle Fund, which are the two primary operating funds at the agency. This money was not reported to the state Finance Department, in contrast to normal budgeting procedures....

◼ Ruth Coleman's resignation letter (.pdf)
◼ Capitol Alert: Jerry Brown appoints interim parks chief in wake of scandal
◼ Editorial: Parks officials evaded rules, insulted public
◼ Unauthorized vacation buyouts secretly pushed through at state parks department, audit says
◼ Assemblywoman Gaines calls for fiscal probe of California parks agency
◼ Interactive: A guide to California state parks