Free: Contests & Raffles.
I keep hearing the same thing from friends of mine who work for Weyco and Port Blakely. Weyco is very close to turning Vail into a permit, limited access only area. I don't blame them one bit.
RCW 84.33.010Legislative findings. As a result of the study and analysis of systems of taxation of standing timber and forest lands by the forest tax committee pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 30 of the 41st session of the legislature, and the recommendations of the committee based thereon, the legislature hereby finds that: (1) The public welfare requires that this state's system for taxation of timber and forest lands be modernized to assure the citizens of this state and its future generations the advantages to be derived from the continuous production of timber and forest products from the significant area of privately owned forests in this state. It is this state's policy to encourage forestry and restocking and reforesting of such forests so that present and future generations will enjoy the benefits which forest areas provide in enhancing water supply, in minimizing soil erosion, storm and flood damage to persons or property, in providing a habitat for wild game, in providing scenic and recreational spaces, in maintaining land areas whose forests contribute to the natural ecological equilibrium, and in providing employment and profits to its citizens and raw materials for products needed by everyone.THE ABOVE ARE THE PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT THE LEGISLATURE FOUND JUSTIFY THE SIGNIFICANT TAX BREAK OUTLINED IN WA. STATE LAW. If the "recreational spaces" talked about above were meant "pay for play" how is this benefitting the public?? And even if it isn't laid out precisely that they are getting a tax break partly for providing recreation, this is something that can be changed by the people with a tweek to this law. Remeber, the people are ultimately in charge.
Kind of hard to jump up and down and scream about a private company charging to use private land when the state is making you pay to use State lands.
Quote from: Sumpnneedskillin on July 08, 2011, 02:25:52 PMKind of hard to jump up and down and scream about a private company charging to use private land when the state is making you pay to use State lands.The state is charging what it must and so is the timber company. The state land is ours. But, the timber company gets tax breaks of millions of dollars for opening up their land to sport and recreation uses. As long as they lose their tax breaks once they start charging for use, I'm good with that.