Discover Pass sales disappoint state parks officials

[Sumpnneedskillin]

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Discover-Pass-sales-disappoint-state-parks-officials-175454391.html

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/oct/22/discover-pass-sales-slump/

"Discover Pass revenues were about $4.7 million short of expectations for the months of June through September, said Parks spokeswoman Virginia Painter. That means instead of asking for $18 million from the general fund for the 2013-2015 biennium, the Commission will consider asking for $27.2 million, she said"

"Despite the public’s resistance to buy the new pass, she said, the agency believes eventually, people will change their minds.

“For the first two or three years, some people are going to say, ‘I’m not paying that.’ But eventually, if they love their parks, some people are going to figure out what they are missing,” she said"

[Huntbear]

 

When are they EVER going to listen??? 

SCREW the DISCOVER PASS and the STATE PARKS!  Double dipping Sum biotches....

Learn to live within a budget and deal with it.. quit handing off your financial mishandlings to everyone else, and expect hunters, fishermen, and outdoors people to pay for it... 

[Curly]

"Despite the public’s resistance to buy the new pass, she said, the agency believes eventually, people will change their minds.

“For the first two or three years, some people are going to say, ‘I’m not paying that.’ But eventually, if they love their parks, some people are going to figure out what they are missing,” she said"

Damn it.  She must have been reading my mind.  I am starting to get tired of not being able to go use some of the DNR lands that I used to like hiking or hunting on.  I was just thinking that I might give in and buy the damn pass.  But if they are just trying to wait us out, I'll give it another year............. 

[bobcat]

I bet sales increased considerably the last week of September and first two weeks of October, as hunters bought it since state land was all that was open to hunt in many areas.

I was forced to buy one so I could hunt the Winston unit, since Weyerhaeuser was shut down. Good thing I did too, as we had a DNR officer stop in our camp to check our passes.

[Fl0und3rz]

$4.7 Million shortfall + $18 Million does not equal $27.2 Million.  With losing track of the other $4.5 Million, they have bigger problems than just a bunch of disgruntled former parks users.   

So they come up short and need to ask for nearly 200% of the difference?

I laugh in their general direction.  What is it about *censored*s that make them always forget to account for the FACT that when you tax something, people will ALWAYS be more inclined to avoid it or seek suitable alternatives?

[PlateauNDN]

Close the feeding stations and enforce the people to pay up to see the aninals, thatll generate some funding.

[Tom Reichner]

I stopped visiting state land as soon as the Pass was instituted.  I don't miss it at all - I just spend my time on federal land instead, or on the reservation, or over in montana, or . . .

I'm never going to pay for that darn pass.   There are many, many places to enjoy nature and wildlife without having to pay such an extremely high fee.  What they offer in return is just not worth it; at least to me it isn't.

[hunt4]

Close the feeding stations and enforce the people to pay up to see the aninals, thatll generate some funding.

That's what bites my ass about it, to hear there not enforcing it at the feeding stationn. Free ride for the lookiloos but charge us sportsmens.

Would have not bought one this year but was forced to because it was the only land open for wife's elk hunt

[hrd2fnd]

Close the feeding stations and enforce the people to pay up to see the aninals, thatll generate some funding.

[Special T]

"But eventually, IF they love their parks, some people are going to figure out what they are missing"

The problem is they deny who their customers actually are. MOST people who use state parks are lower income and cannot afford to pay for the pass, or choose not to. This is NOT speculation on my part but observation by people who WORK for the WA ST park. Evidence of this fact is also from the other failed attempts to raise money in the past by parking fees, AND the fact that they must include unimproved lands used by a different group in order to increase their pool. I think its great so many outdoorsman have chosen to change their hunting locations, OR chance a ticket sending the state the message to pound sand. I will not let some bureaucratic idiot think they can hold me hostage to pay for their Pet BS...

If you enjoy the State parks for visits, and fishing, you should support the parks by purchasing a pass. This state is based on a user pays system, like many of my fellow hunters i am upset at the attempt to TAX me when i do not use the states services.

[KyleMB123]

If you buy the pass you are only encouraging Olympia to mismanage more money and tack on more fees. In conclusion, don't buy it.

[bobcat]

If you buy the pass you are only encouraging Olympia to mismanage more money and tack on more fees. In conclusion, don't buy it.

Buy it for $35, or pay a $100 or $200 fine.

I chose to pay only the $35. And now I can access state land for a year. I think it was the better option.

[Klyne3]

I'm with Bobcat on this. I chose to spend the $70 on passes than to get fined.  I've been checked multiple times.

[flinger]

Had to buy 2 this year cuz I lost my first one so $70  to me
But I have saved at least  $ 150  in camping cost by staying at a secure DNR campground  not really for it but with that kinda savings I am not going to complain
Oh and by the way I found the one I lost so I may be willing to part with one at a discounted price

[Curly]

I wonder what Clint Didier thinks about the pass. 

[Special T]

I have not found a quote where Clint says he is opposed to it BUT He is against the way that Goldburg has maganged a most of the DNR. 

[stuckalot]

$4.7 Million shortfall + $18 Million does not equal $27.2 Million.  With losing track of the other $4.5 Million, they have bigger problems than just a bunch of disgruntled former parks users.   

So they come up short and need to ask for nearly 200% of the difference?

I laugh in their general direction.  What is it about *censored*s that make them always forget to account for the FACT that when you tax something, people will ALWAYS be more inclined to avoid it or seek suitable alternatives?

My first thought too! But I think what it means is that they are projecting a shortfall of 9 million dollars for the year, those numbers were just how much short they were for 1 qtr of the year!

And obviously they are over estimating the number of people who think as highly of our parks as they do

[Fl0und3rz]

$4.7 Million shortfall + $18 Million does not equal $27.2 Million.  With losing track of the other $4.5 Million, they have bigger problems than just a bunch of disgruntled former parks users.   

So they come up short and need to ask for nearly 200% of the difference?

I laugh in their general direction.  What is it about *censored*s that make them always forget to account for the FACT that when you tax something, people will ALWAYS be more inclined to avoid it or seek suitable alternatives?

My first thought too! But I think what it means is that they are projecting a shortfall of 9 million dollars for the year, those numbers were just how much short they were for 1 qtr of the year!

The first part was sarcasm, and accounts for the fact that the article did not explain it well. The second part is my serious point.

[stuckalot]

What gets me is their attitude that people just don't get it yet, and they need to advertise it better. No! People get it and state parks aren't as important to average Joe, as they are to average state park employee!  Wait it out as long as you'd like, people will find other things to do than buy a pass to visit a state park! If they didn't come close to their goal this year, then they're not going to next year or the year after!

[Special T]

Their problem is they just can't seem to prioritize. THEY COULD do some things to solve the problem besides asking for more money. Here are just a couple prioritize those parks that are the most self sufficient. Close/give others to county/cities. Expand camping in parks that are expensive to maintain.(camping is a revenue maker).  These are decisions they don't want to make. There are lots of great people that work for the State parks, but if the parks are going to be relevant they have to change with the times... There are some state parks that should be held onto that would have a hard time. one park that gets LOTS of usage is the Sammasish state park. It gets a LOT of use but very little opportunity to raise rev... maybe it should be given to the county?

[Boss .300 winmag]

I stopped visiting state land as soon as the Pass was instituted.  I don't miss it at all - I just spend my time on federal land instead, or on the reservation, or over in montana, or . . .

I'm never going to pay for that darn pass.   There are many, many places to enjoy nature and wildlife without having to pay such an extremely high fee.  What they offer in return is just not worth it; at least to me it isn't.

 


The state needs to down size the state park system employee's, Rockport State Park has a full time ranger living on site for day use only! 

[fireweed]

State Parks could survive on camping fees, IF it was allowed to operate like a private campground.  But they don't. They have to operate like a nature preserve or Mini-national park, and look at/study/plan for endangered species, global warming, water issues, visual impacts, noise control, law enforcement etc etc etc.  All this exta stuff wastes money and does not generate it.  This  red-tape does absolutely nothing on the ground to "save the world".  Cut all these  money-sucking requirements, and just clean the bathrooms, and they would do just fine. 

[Fl0und3rz]

State Parks could survive on camping fees, IF it was allowed to operate like a private campground.  But they don't. They have to operate like a nature preserve or Mini-national park, and look at/study/plan for endangered species, global warming, water issues, visual impacts, noise control, law enforcement etc etc etc.  All this exta stuff wastes money and does not generate it.  This  red-tape does absolutely nothing on the ground to "save the world".  Cut all these  money-sucking requirements, and just clean the bathrooms, and they would do just fine. 

LOL.  The beast is killing itself.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I stopped visiting state land as soon as the Pass was instituted.  I don't miss it at all - I just spend my time on federal land instead,

I'm never going to pay for that darn pass.   There are many, many places to enjoy nature and wildlife without having to pay such an extremely high fee.  What they offer in return is just not worth it; at least to me it isn't.

Tom, you typed it all out the way I would have.   I refuse to buy the pass.
 
-Steve

[JackOfAllTrades]

The state needs to down size the state park system employee's, Rockport State Park has a full time ranger living on site for day use only! 

They should close that park and sell the land to join it to the neighboring federal land! No one uses it since you can't camp there.
 
-Steve

[JimmyHoffa]

I got the pass but it sure isn't for state parks.  If they were on their own, I wouldn't get one.  The fact that DNR is included, and that there is so much DNR land near me (and DNR land has oodles more animals than most of the other lands) kind of got me to buy it.