No more Discover Pass?

[fireweed]

The state report on the future of Passes has just been released.  The top recommendation is to get rid of the Discover Pass altogether, and replace it with a broader, more general tax (like an add on to vehicle registration).

http://bigtentcoalition.info/Home/final-report-on-rec-pass-and-recommendations

[JimmyHoffa]

This is WA, they'll likely leave the pass as is AND add a new tax.

[fireweed]

Here are the three recommendations:
1) no pass option
2) two vehicle system (build on the current DP system)
3) reduced fee one-vehicle option

All these choices also hope to add state/federal coordination and state agency consistency (like adding free days to DNR, WDFW), and eliminate dual registration for ORV's

[Pegasus]

Surprised the libs didn't recommend a state income tax to replace the Discover Pass. Always seeking ways to extract the last nickel from the minions.

[hunter399]

Seems I me ,from the artical link,they wanna to combine the two passes ,discover,and access pass,then charge you a smaller fee for one pass or add the cost to your hunting licenses, which no more free pass for national forest,or higher licenses cost for hunting,anymore I just don't buy discover and a lot of other people I'm sure , so now there loseing money and trying to figure out how to get everybody buy the one pass ,It's BS and don't wanna be forced to buy it ,to use public land.

[Buckmark]

So add a fee to the already over priced tabs, great so i will pay 4x what it cost me know for the pass to not have to by the pass 

[hunter399]

Pass-Free Access Package
This is the preferred recommendation of the voting members of the Leadership Team, concluding that it is the best fit with the guiding principles/parameters of the proviso. This package replaces the Discover Pass and other state recreation passes with a source of broad-based public funding, resulting in the simplest, most consistent and equitable fee system and stable funding for land management agencies. Broad-based public funding reduces the need for exemptions and discounted passes. The funding source given the most consideration was a mandatory public land management fee at the time of vehicle registration; however, the Leadership Team did not prescribe this source and was open to other funding methods. With more Washingtonians supporting public land management, further fiscal analysis on a registration fee should begin in the $7-15 per vehicle range. Under this package, agency budgets should still include allocations from the State General Fund.

Now this is where the acess pass you get goes bye bye,and you have to buy one pass for all public land.

 This package replaces the Discover Pass and other state recreation passes ,quoted from artical.

[bobcat]

I wouldn't mind paying slightly more if I could use all public lands without having to worry about remembering to bring the correct pass every time. My issue is the pass I need is often in one of our other vehicles.

[hunter399]

I wouldn't mind paying slightly more if I could use all public lands without having to worry about remembering to bring the correct pass every time. My issue is the pass I need is often in one of our other vehicles.

So give more money , So they can give it to wildlife conflict people and piss it away , with no improvement to public lands.

[hunter399]

Sorry bobcat ,this topic makes me so angry
I seen your other comment on hunting out of state,in the 425,000 topic.

[bobcat]

I wouldn't mind paying slightly more if I could use all public lands without having to worry about remembering to bring the correct pass every time. My issue is the pass I need is often in one of our other vehicles.

So give more money , So they can give it to wildlife conflict people and piss it away , with no improvement to public lands.

Sure, why not. I said "slightly more." Like maybe a dollar or two. If it benefits me, why not? As it is, I buy a Discover pass and I have to decide which two vehicles out of the three we own, I'm going to use it for. Same with the WDFW pass. You're only allowed two license plate numbers on each one. If they did away with that issue, it would be worth a couple more dollars for sure.

[pianoman9701]

Our state government has never met a tax it didn't like. They'll never get rid of the Discover Pass completely, nor will they reduce the price without first targeting the prospective loss of that reduction elsewhere in the revenue stream. It would be more fair to tax the population at large, but they're not giving up this cash source ever. It's been challenged in court and upheld. No reason to risk losing that. Of course, the other option would be to reduce government and meet the needed costs through eliminating waste. Bwahahahaha, I can't even believe I said that. Funny joke there. 

[jackmaster]

Insley and all his minions need to go hop off 100ft cliff with 110 ft safety line 😊

[pianoman9701]

Insley and all his minions need to go hop off 100ft cliff with 110 ft safety line 😊

Their numbers are increasing. This state will only get worse for our income and our liberties.

[baker5150]

I get the feeling they gov't doesn't like the Discover Pass.  Only because it focuses on too small a user group for revenue.  Like stated earlier, a state wide tax on tabs or goods would increase the revenue exponentially and reduces the overhead associated with distributing, selling, and enforcing a pass.  They see the $$ potential, and they see an easy sell to the public.