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December 4, 2011 in Outdoors
Cash-strapped state parks banking on Discover Pass, new approach
Skiers are among thousands of visitors at Mount Spokane and other Washington State Parks. Visitors can expect reduced services as the agency struggles for funding.
(Full-size photo)
The Washington State Parks system, the fourth oldest in the nation, is at a brink of uncertainty in the state’s lingering budget crisis.
After 98 years, officials are looking at switching from a traditional parks model to operating like a business, with emphasis on the bottom line.
The Legislature has been weaning the agency from state general fund tax support, forcing heavier reliance on user fees.
But the new Discover Pass, required since July for vehicle access to state parks and many other state lands, has not generated the expected revenue.
The State Parks and Recreation Commission is meeting Tuesday to discuss a budget reduction plan, as well as how it will approach the Legislature to make the $30 annual Discover Pass more appealing to consumers.
“We see our budget is going to fall short and we’re trying to plan ahead for how to deal with that,” said Sandy Mealing, agency spokeswoman.
More cuts are inevitable, parks officials say, although they refrain from suggesting any of the remaining 116 state parks will be closed.
“It would be counterproductive to close parks while we’re asking people to pay for them,” Mealing said. “We’re doing everything we can to keep parks open.”
Pink slips to some of the agency’s 516 full-time employees – already down by about 80 positions since July 2008 – are likely to be in the mail before the end of the year.
“I don’t know whether I’ll be here when the dust settles, but I’ll be doing everything I possibly can to cut costs and bring in money,” said Chris Guidotti, Riverside State Park manager in Spokane. “But I don’t think there’s any question that some services will have to be reduced.”
State Parks officials across the state are diverting more of their attention from providing recreation to generating revenue.
For example, Guidotti said previous staff cuts have left Riverside State Park with three empty houses he’d like to market as vacation rentals.
“It’s all a balancing act,” he said. “The new equestrian campground that will be finished next season will generate money, but not unless I have staff to take care of it.”
Riverside State Park has 10 full-time staffers to tend more than 10,000 acres ranging from the Columbia Plateau Trail at the southern end of Spokane County to the east end of the 37-mile Centennial Trail at the Idaho state line.
One proposal affecting the Spokane area would eliminate a park manager position and some rangers by combining Riverside and Mount Spokane state parks.
Mount Spokane park’s five rangers deal with a spectrum of trails over the park’s 13,919 acres plus nordic ski trail grooming, a downhill ski area concession, snowmobilers, one campground, a lookout rental and a major effort to keep the mountain road snow-free during winter.
Riverside State Park includes about 80 miles trails in the core area alone, campgrounds at the Bowl and Pitcher and Long Lake and several boat launches on the Spokane River and Little Spokane River.
“No business would take that all on over 10,000 acres, because it isn’t profitable to deal with noxious weeds on such large scale and deal with forest health and archeological resources while providing recreation and leaving a legacy for future generations,” Guidotti said.
Yet state parks officials are looking more closely at the business model as a funding option.
Unless the Legislature takes a different course on state park funding, officials have little choice.
State Parks officials have the daunting task of cutting up to $30 million from the $148.6 million biennial budget.
The agency already has cut programs and terminated staff, consolidated region offices from four to three and left staffing vacancies open. Travel has been restricted and staff has been redistributed to reduce expenses.
In 2007-2009, the agency received 60 percent of its budget from the state general fund, down from as much as 75 percent in previous years.
The contribution by state taxpayers was reduced to 30 percent in 2009-2011 and that will drop to 12 percent in 2011-13.
State Parks have been told by the Legislature to expect no general fund money starting in 2013.
The agency is doing all it can to preserve its $12.5 million reserve fund, Mealing said, noting that the public has two ways to support state parks in lieu of tax support:
• Donate on the convenient check box when renewing Washington vehicle licenses.
• Buy a $30 annual Discover Pass, or the $10 daily Discover Pass.
“The situation would be bleak if Discover Pass and other revenues do not increase,” said Don Hoch, State Parks director.
To compensate for the reduction in taxpayer funding, 36 percent of the state parks’ total budget is supposed to come from sales of the Discover Pass.
The agency was projected to get $54 million for 2011-2013 from its share of the Discover Pass sales when the 2010 Washington Legislature enacted the pass.
But since it was required for vehicle access to state parks and other state lands on July 5, the pass has fallen short of expectations, bringing in $7.2 million so far.
State Parks gets 84 percent of the Discover Pass revenue while the departments of Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources each get 8 percent.
“The Discover Pass is new, and like any program it takes time to get up and running,” Mealing said. Sales increased in October when the Department of Licensing began offering the convenience of purchasing the Discover Pass along with vehicle license renewals, she said.
Parks officials have defined two major issues with the Discover Pass.
• It’s not transferable to other family vehicles. This issue will be addressed in the coming Legislature.
• Many people still don’t know about it despite widespread publicity since the 2010 Legislative session.
“It’s a challenge to reach people,” Mealing said.
Meantime, many staffers worry that parks would have to sell their souls under a business model to become self-sufficient.
Services certainly will be reduced, along with resource protection and enforcement. Maintenance likely will be deferred in many cases.
Schedules may be changed and some parks might be closed during low visitor use days of the week.
Another possibility is hiring fewer commissioned rangers and using lower-paid staff to do some of those jobs.
“Badges cost money,” one park ranger said. “Rangers have to go through a lot of expensive training, but on the other hand, they don’t have to call for help when they see somebody doing something illegal.”
One of several parks officials who asked to remain anonymous said the task the agency will be addressing this week involves one pivotal question: “What is the lowest level of service they can provide and still attract customers to visit state parks.”
On the web: Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, parks.wa.gov/agency/
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DHF on December 04 at 4:40 a.m.
Being the 5th highest taxing state in the nation we should be awash in money. But our Lib Gov and legislature love to spend more than they take in. If you choose to live out of your budget dont come to the taxpayer to bail you out. Close the parks until a better way to fund them can be found.
bumblebeetuna on December 04 at 12:47 p.m.
Washington state parks are great and the discover pass is a deal if you go to 3 or more parks a year. Closing the parks is a nonsensical idea. The park system brings tourists and state residents to different and sometimes remote locales throughout the state. Money is spent at many a private biz along the way.
BlondeSquawker on December 04 at 1:19 p.m.
One of the last great things about Washington state is about to dissolve away.
Fetch on December 04 at 2:19 p.m.
The state legislature did not cut funding of free medical for illegal immigrants because it would only effect a small number of people. What they did do is cut the funding for the parks, to say “Look we are cutting the budget”, kind of an “in your face action”.
There are two ways to pay for the parks. A general tax of all, or go to a user tax. Did the parks have a bloated budget? Sure they did being taxpayer funded. The downside is, people are blaming the parks and destroying the discover pass required signs costing the parks even more to replace them. It is the people of Washington’s call to tell the legislature what to cut from the budget.
monkeyman on December 04 at 2:40 p.m.
@DHF on December 04 at 4:40 a.m.
Being the 5th highest taxing state in the nation…
Not sure which data point you are referring to, but I don’t pay any state income tax in WA.
kneelie on December 04 at 2:53 p.m.
They should expand their efforts to utilize volunteers for trail maintenance and things. Engage the public and reach out to clubs that use the parks and land like the Mountaineers.
grey on December 04 at 3:35 p.m.
why don’t they set a fee on using public restrooms while they at it. Something like 99c for one time use. Extra if you need some toilet paper. They can make prepaid passes or annual passes. Then something could be done about air we exhale.
Fetch on December 04 at 4:17 p.m.
kneelie, yes communities should step up for parks in their area. What are you going to do?
grey, I was debating on replying to you, but you have managed to write one of the most ignorant postings I have read in a long time. Congratulations.
steve on December 04 at 4:46 p.m.
Our state parks are a treasure. So are our national parks and state and national forests within Washington. We just plain have to find a better way to fund them so that all the citizens of Washington can enjoy them - not just those of us who can afford passes or daily fees. I’m very willing to pay a higher tax on outdoor equipment, RVs, etc. to help keep our state parks in good shape. I’d even welcome a tax high enough to improve our park system beyond past or current budgets.
As our state population grows the impacts to ‘wild’ and ‘natural’ lands will increase. Now is not the time to lessen our state park efforts. I’m willing to help subsidize state services/lands that I use in a more indirect fashion than I would in having to pay a fee for each use or a yearly pass. I have purchased a Discover Pass and I have used it. But, I do not feel that enough funds can be raised by such an approach.
As stated in an earlier post - the unique lands within our state bring a substantial amount of money into the state via tourism. Anything we might do to raise funds that could impact the number of tourists to our state is a counter-productive idea.
catfuzz on December 04 at 5:15 p.m.
This state government LOVES to cut the most visible items to the taxpayers. Kind of like, “Look at what we had to do because you’re being stingy with your money and won’t pay us more taxes”. So, they cut parks, they cut libraries, they cut police, fire and other emergency services instead of cutting the WASTE AND FAT!!! They can keep their Discover Pass. I won’t be buying one.
woamike on December 04 at 5:19 p.m.
As we spend more and more to subsidize sloth and as the bureaucratic leviathan grows and consumes more, there will be less and less for other things, including parks.
Since nearly all of our elected officials gain/maintain power by promising direct-benefit goodies to the electorate (with other people’s money) and because the bureaucracy is rapidly becoming a fourth branch of government with a lust for power equal to the existing three, don’t expect things to change on their own.
As a people we will either elect people who will actually constrain, contain and then reduce the size/power of government and the bureaucracy or we will be crushed and consumed by government. In other words, we need to start electing people who are the exact opposite of Obama, Frank, Pelosi, Murray, (the D list is nearly endless) and the many establishment Rs who have become little more than parasites on the country.
Fetch on December 04 at 5:28 p.m.
catfuzz, your post is the second most ignorant post I have read. Police, fire, libraries are a local issues. Stay on topic. They have cut the parks, how are you going to fund it? How are you going to help?
catfuzz on December 04 at 6:30 p.m.
Ftech, what am I going to do to help? VOTE!
Fetch on December 04 at 6:35 p.m.
Sorry fuzz, that is not enough.
Edwame on December 04 at 7:07 p.m.
Fetch, I could not disagree with you more. catfuzz hit the nail on the head with his post. The visible programs get the boot first as a diversionary tactic. The money is just not there for any of us right now so we improvise and do what we have to, to make ends meet. The Discovery Pass is not well received because it was ill conceived and was not planned out properly. The State needs to rethink the way this pass works for the user. The State Parks now use excessive resources enforcing the Disco Pass as well as other perceived parking violations. They feel they must have total control over all who enter the park and micro manage, missing the big picture.
catfuzz hit the nail on the head, the government (local and state) wants us to feel we are not pulling our weight so they will tell us that budget cuts will hurt the vulnerable. There are many expenses that are paid to government employees, that are not paid in the private sector. We need to start there.
Disagreeing with someones opinion is one thing, calling them ignorant is another.
johnclarke on December 04 at 7:39 p.m.
Yeah, you guys are totally right. This is the fault of all the libs what with their trees and flowers and outdoor crap. I know that Republicans don’t need parks, because they pretty much never go outside or do stuff, other than complain about how liberals are ruining everything.
Here is another idea; Why don’t we axe the 3 billion in tax breaks for Boeing? That would cover a few rangers to keep all those hippie liberals from smoking dope in the parks.
Fetch on December 04 at 7:43 p.m.
edwame, you did not read my previous post. So I will waste space by repeating what I wrote. The parks are the pawn of the legislature.
How are you going to fund the parks?
Vote every four years?
fuzz is typical of the people who have paid an invisible tax to fund the parks. Now it has become a user tax, in your face.
edwame, How are you going to fund the parks?
Fetch on December 04 at 7:52 p.m.
johnclarke, why did you post?
johnclarke on December 04 at 9:07 p.m.
Why, to annoy you. Now go. Fetch.
Fetch on December 04 at 9:15 p.m.
And so I will.
teeny2010 on December 04 at 11:14 p.m.
My dad is a Park Ranger at a Washington State Park and we are all very worried about what the commision is going to say. Please people help my dad and many other men and women keep their job’s by buying the discover pass or donating when you buy your car tabs. I know that we are all in a recession right now, but what happens when the parks system closes down? Just going to be in a deeper mess than we are now.
DHF on December 05 at 5:56 a.m.
Some need to re read the article. (Weaning the agency from General fund tax support) My interpretation. The liberal democratic legislature steals the money intended for the parks dept little by little (weaning) so they can fund there little pet projects. There should be a separate fund for the Parks Dept. and the legislature should stay the hell out of it. It’s no different than the Rainy Day Fund. The Lib. Dem. Legislature could not stand to see that money sit and draw interest. They figured a way to circumvent the will of the voters . And they spent it. If one thinks Gov is the answer, you have to be nuts. We need to vote them out and start all over. The first thing would be getting rid of DSHS.
Benson on March 05 at 1:11 p.m.
I took my mom’s car up to the Carlson location to take my dog for a walk on the Centennial Trail, in Spokane on 3/4/12. I came back to find a citation on the car stating that I must show the Discover Pass in order to park in the lot. This is absurd, there were ABSOLUTELY no references, signs, NOTHING in view in the parking lot saying that I must show the Discover Pass or else I would be fined $99. I hadn’t been to that particular trail in years, as I don’t live in the area, leaving me completely unaware of the fact that you needed a Discover Pass to enjoy the State Park. I left a message at the park office as soon as I discovered the citation, only to receive a nasty phone call today from Park Staff member John Pillison at the Riverside Office in Spokane, WA. He had no sympathy whatsoever and said that there are never any “warnings” given - even to people who don’t live in the area and who are unaware that the pass is required. His only response was to buy the Discover Pass within 48 hours to escape the $99 fine. After asking if there was any possible way to turn the citation into a warning, John said, “Only if you speak with the park staff member who issued the citation.” Upon asking John for contact information for park staff number 331 (the one who issued the citation) John immediately exclaimed, “Oh, you won’t be able to speak with him today, he’s … uh … unavailable.” I think to myself, ‘How convenient that he is ‘unavailable’ today, just as my 48 hours are running out to buy the Discover Pass.’ All I can think in my head is, what a complete jerk for not even letting me speak with the only person who might be able to change the citation to a warning. At this point, I have decided that $35 for the pass (that will go unused, as I don’t live in the area) is a better alternative to giving them the $99 - even more of my money wasted on this awful government scheme. A scheme to limit or even close off one of the last places that citizens can go to get a breath of fresh air and catch a glimpse of Washington scenery.