Post by: Sumpnneedskillin on October 23, 2012, 12:01:15 PM
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/oct/22/discover-pass-sales-slump/ (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"
Post by: Huntbear on October 23, 2012, 12:05:21 PM
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... >:( >:( >:( >:( :beatdeadhorse: :beatdeadhorse: :beatdeadhorse: :beatdeadhorse: :beatdeadhorse: :boxin: :boxin:
Post by: Curly on October 23, 2012, 12:07:59 PM
"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............. :(
Post by: bobcat on October 23, 2012, 12:13:41 PM
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.
Post by: Fl0und3rz on October 23, 2012, 12:14:56 PM
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?
Post by: PlateauNDN on October 23, 2012, 12:28:20 PM
Post by: Tom Reichner on October 23, 2012, 12:30:53 PM
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.
Post by: hunt4 on October 23, 2012, 12:48:01 PM
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
Post by: hrd2fnd on October 23, 2012, 12:48:11 PM
Close the feeding stations and enforce the people to pay up to see the aninals, thatll generate some funding.:yeah:
Post by: Special T on October 23, 2012, 01:46:09 PM
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.
Post by: KyleMB123 on October 23, 2012, 02:02:21 PM
Post by: bobcat on October 23, 2012, 02:17:52 PM
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.
Post by: Klyne3 on October 23, 2012, 02:27:44 PM
Post by: flinger on October 23, 2012, 03:26:14 PM
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 :tup:
Post by: Curly on October 23, 2012, 03:47:35 PM
Post by: Special T on October 23, 2012, 03:58:19 PM
Post by: stuckalot on October 23, 2012, 08:24:56 PM
$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
Post by: Fl0und3rz on October 23, 2012, 08:30:58 PM
$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.
Post by: stuckalot on October 24, 2012, 05:46:22 AM
Post by: Special T on October 24, 2012, 07:13:47 AM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on October 24, 2012, 07:55:41 AM
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.
:yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah:
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! :yike: :yike:
Post by: fireweed on October 24, 2012, 08:52:47 AM
Post by: Fl0und3rz on October 24, 2012, 09:07:43 AM
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.
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on October 24, 2012, 09:10:32 AM
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
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on October 24, 2012, 09:14:16 AM
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! :yike: :yike:
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
Post by: JimmyHoffa on October 24, 2012, 09:37:39 AM