Post by: bigtex on September 29, 2019, 09:36:59 PM
The Discover Pass vehicle access fee was passed into law during the 2011 legislative session. The fee was introduced to replace the loss of General Fund revenue in the agency’s budget. The intent was to help transition State Parks from a reliance on General Fund revenue to a greater reliance on use fees to pay for agency operations. The Discover Pass price was set at $30 for an annual pass and $10 for a daily pass, with a 4-year review cycle for inflation adjustments. To-date, no inflation adjustments have been implemented.
Targeting a January 1, 2021 implementation date will mean that it will be almost 10 years without a Discover Pass price increase. This puts the proposed price increase at $2.75 less than an inflationary price (National CPI) adjustment which is computed at $37.24 (Dec. 2020). State Parks believes this price adjustment is warranted. As the cost of doing business continues to rise, an increase in use fees combined with additional General Fund tax support is needed. Donations are also part of State Parks funding mix, but since they are a voluntary contribution, they are not looked at the same way as use fees and tax support.
The Discover Pass allows people to access State Parks, Fish and Wildlife, and Department of Natural Resources lands by vehicle. Therefore, the Pass revenue is split 84% for Parks and 8% each to Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and Department of Natural Resources (DNR). For State Parks, the revenue is used to help pay for overall operational costs incurred in running the park system. For DFW and DNR the revenue is used to pay for specific services and programs. Both DFW and DNR are in support of the proposed fee increase.
Post by: huntnphool on September 29, 2019, 09:39:18 PM
Post by: Jason on September 29, 2019, 10:05:37 PM
Post by: bigtex on September 29, 2019, 10:08:59 PM
Didn’t the revenue generated from the Discover pass go straight into the states general fund?No. 84% to State Parks and 8% each to WDFW and DNR.
Post by: dscubame on September 29, 2019, 11:12:45 PM
Post by: fireweed on September 30, 2019, 08:29:58 AM
They could also eliminate all the exemptions to the Discover Pass and make up the difference instead.
Post by: Karl Blanchard on September 30, 2019, 08:34:24 AM
Post by: ctwiggs1 on September 30, 2019, 08:54:24 AM
We're collecting a record amount of tax revenue in this record high economy... yet we still can't find our parks without additional fees.
What a nightmare state.
Post by: TheStovePipeKid on September 30, 2019, 08:58:51 AM
Post by: bornhunter on September 30, 2019, 09:12:29 AM
Post by: 300rum on September 30, 2019, 09:16:16 AM
Of course, I had to buy the day pass. Do you think the government school buses did?
Post by: hughjorgan on September 30, 2019, 09:26:45 AM
Post by: Special T on September 30, 2019, 09:37:07 AM
I resent the fact that parking or driving on DNR land requires this. The fee split just shows that this is a rob Peter to Pay Paul system. I have camped at State parks and they were great... no discover pass required.
Post by: whacker1 on September 30, 2019, 01:24:53 PM
Didn’t the revenue generated from the Discover pass go straight into the states general fund?No. 84% to State Parks and 8% each to WDFW and DNR.
I could have sworn that I read that the budget swept the dedicated funds into the general fund. Did the news piece that WTA put out not come to pass?
https://www.wta.org/get-involved/action/save_state_rec_lands
Post by: Moe the Sleaze on September 30, 2019, 01:55:20 PM
I can't cite where I heard (or read) it, but I definitely did, because it pissed me off.
The cynic in me says "of course it's being siphoned off". This state is ALWAYS in dire need of General Fund revenue. I'm pretty sure the state powers-that-be consider that all our General fund "emergencies" justify re-directing Discover Pass money.
My feeling is it's probably NOT LEGAL, but I don't have the deep pockets to challenge it.
Finally, you WILL get a ticket if you don't buy one. Our rangers have become nothing more than money-grubbing, glorified meter-maids IMO.
Post by: buckfvr on September 30, 2019, 02:07:35 PM
They want you to agree to give them more money for things you havent agreed to support.......Typical political PURE BS .
Post by: fireweed on September 30, 2019, 02:09:48 PM
I went to Sacajawea State Park last Friday to Heritage days. We home school and have made it a part of their education. We always go Friday about 2 p.m. because the public school kids leave and the girls can more easily ask questions and have time to learn.
Of course, I had to buy the day pass. Do you think the government school buses did?
School buses and other government license plates are exempt.
But...the Lewis County head ranger jumped a local school track team for not having a Discover Pass while the kids were running in the park. (I had told the school they didn't need one in a school vehicle). The ranger was wrong. Sometimes you got to read the fine print and go over their heads. In their defense, there are so many loopholes that the park employees can't keep up with it: schools, disabled vets, foster families, tribal members...
Post by: Jason on September 30, 2019, 02:18:00 PM
Post by: bigtex on September 30, 2019, 02:22:06 PM
Whacker, I heard the same thing....that Discover Pass money was being diverted into the General Fund.It was a proposal to shift the funds but it did not pass.
I can't cite where I heard (or read) it, but I definitely did, because it pissed me off.
The cynic in me says "of course it's being siphoned off". This state is ALWAYS in dire need of General Fund revenue. I'm pretty sure the state powers-that-be consider that all our General fund "emergencies" justify re-directing Discover Pass money.
My feeling is it's probably NOT LEGAL, but I don't have the deep pockets to challenge it.
Finally, you WILL get a ticket if you don't buy one. Our rangers have become nothing more than money-grubbing, glorified meter-maids IMO.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
Post by: whacker1 on September 30, 2019, 07:43:13 PM
Whacker, I heard the same thing....that Discover Pass money was being diverted into the General Fund.It was a proposal to shift the funds but it did not pass.
I can't cite where I heard (or read) it, but I definitely did, because it pissed me off.
The cynic in me says "of course it's being siphoned off". This state is ALWAYS in dire need of General Fund revenue. I'm pretty sure the state powers-that-be consider that all our General fund "emergencies" justify re-directing Discover Pass money.
My feeling is it's probably NOT LEGAL, but I don't have the deep pockets to challenge it.
Finally, you WILL get a ticket if you don't buy one. Our rangers have become nothing more than money-grubbing, glorified meter-maids IMO.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
I see. I did some searching and see that it was part of the Senate budget proposal, but did not make the final budget.
Post by: Angry Perch on October 01, 2019, 08:22:33 AM
Post by: JJB11B on October 01, 2019, 08:53:25 AM
Post by: Archer44 on October 01, 2019, 09:02:13 AM
Post by: Igor on October 01, 2019, 09:04:08 AM
As of the 2018 Legislative Session, the State of Washington will total $105 billion for the 2017-19 biennium. This $105 billion includes amounts from three different budgets, which plan how the state will spend the money.
•The budget that pays for the day-to-day operations of state government (including federal funds and dedicated funds) is called the Operating Budget ($89 billion).
•The budget that pays for transportation activities, such as designing and maintaining roads and public transit, is called the Transportation Budget ($9 billion).
•The budget to acquire and maintain state buildings, public schools, higher education facilities, public lands, parks, and other assets is called the Capital Budget ($7 billion).
http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/budget/2019CitizensGuide.pdf
The state obviously needs more money..................
Post by: JimmyHoffa on October 02, 2019, 07:56:45 PM
I buy them too because I have young children. If you have or already raised young children you'll most likely understand. My wife and I would park on the street and walk in before we had kids. I'm not sure when but they bumped it from $30 to $35 already if I remember correctly. I've camped free before using my DP at Starvation Lake. They have perks they don't really advertise and they certainly aren't worth the cost.Yeah, they're $35 now, or the one I got yesterday was.
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on October 02, 2019, 08:56:39 PM
Post by: bigtex on October 02, 2019, 09:50:21 PM
If they would just require clam diggers to have them, they wouldn't need to raise the price. They need to pay like everyone else.It's not the clam diggers that are exempt, it's the coastal beaches that are exempt. Under the Discover Pass law it is required on WDFW lands, DNR lands, and State Parks (not State Park lands) and that's where the exemption comes in. The coastal beaches are part of the Seashore Conservation Area which is managed by State Parks but in itself is not a "State Park." Was it an intentional exemption? Who knows.
But I do agree that since the land is managed by State Parks that it should not be the only area where it is not required.
Post by: bigtex on October 02, 2019, 09:52:24 PM
The pass itself is $30, transaction and dealer fees make it $35.I buy them too because I have young children. If you have or already raised young children you'll most likely understand. My wife and I would park on the street and walk in before we had kids. I'm not sure when but they bumped it from $30 to $35 already if I remember correctly. I've camped free before using my DP at Starvation Lake. They have perks they don't really advertise and they certainly aren't worth the cost.Yeah, they're $35 now, or the one I got yesterday was.