Washington State Park parking fee???

[+Whidbey Walk]

I just thought I would throw this out to the group. Now would be the time to let officials know if you have an opinion about these new fees.

 

http://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=84&cat=23&id=7682

 

http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=stateparks14m&date=20020914

 

http://home.earthlink.net/~whidbeywalk/

[Macduff]

This is part of privatization of the public 'Commons'. Corporate sponsored politicians will enact tax breaks for large Corporations, and then they will balance the budget on the backs of taxpayers (ie: cut funding for the State park system and instituting access fees). Eventually it will be 'decided' that the 'Private Sector' can do a better job of managing the 'Public' resources. There is much information on the Web about the 'Demo fee program' in the Northwest. See also: http://opentopic.Groundspeak.com/0/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=1750973553&f=3000973683&m=5180924915

[+citrix_99301]

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/2002/0913/story3.html

 

Each year, a third of my salary goes to local, state and federal taxes. Where the heck does it all go?

[+Whidbey Walk]

I just read the article linked to by citrix at tri-cityherald.com. I then went and found this summary of the survey done by WSU. http://www.governor.wa.gov/quality/archive/parks/survey.htm

 

http://home.earthlink.net/~whidbeywalk/

[+Boojum]

quote:

---

Originally posted by citrix_99301:

Each year, a third of my salary goes to local, state and federal taxes. Where the heck does it all go?

---

 

Ummm... I guess you haven't realized that WA doesn't have an income tax. I guess WA-ers haven't been purchasing enough for the sales tax to pay for state parks.

 

Here is a link that shows where federal spending went in 1996. Federal taxes 1996

A quick overview shows 37% Social Security & Medicare, 20% National Defense, 18% Social Programs, 15% National Debt interest, 8% Physical, Human and Community Development (Natural resources are in this), and 2% Law Enforcement & General Government.

[+misguided one]

quote:

---

Ummm... I guess you haven't realized that WA doesn't have an income tax. I guess WA-ers haven't been purchasing enough for the sales tax to pay for state parks.

---

 

Its kinda hard to go out buy things, when our State Gov. forces the citizens to pay for a baseball stadium after the people voted against it. The will of the people be damned, we're your government, we know what's best for you.

 

___________________________________________

 

It's not what you fling,

 

It's the FLING itself.

[+Whidbey Walk]

I understand the financial need of the park system. I understand the logic of user fees. I would actually consider myself a supporter of a day use fee for our state parks. What I can’t support is a system that charges fees considerably higher than surrounding states. I also have a problem with a system that could cost up to 40% of the fees collected. I just don’t feel right throwing so much money away.

 

The State had WSU conduct a survey of residents to find “data on the maximum acceptable day-use rates for charging per person and per car, and for an annual pass. “ Unfortunately, only half of the respondents had even visited a state park in the past two years. I don’t think they got an accurate view of park user opinions. I don’t think Washington residents should be willing to pay twice what is charged in Oregon, Idaho, and even California. Let’s let the State Park Commission and our elected officials know how we feel.

 

Summary of Washington State Parks

Customer Focus Survey

Research by Washington State University, June 2000

http://www.governor.wa.gov/quality/archive/parks/survey.htm

Oregon State Park fee structure

 

http://www.oregonstateparks.org/dayuse_permit.php

 

Idaho State Park fee structure

 

http://www.idahoparks.org/parks/passes.html#State%20Parks

 

California State Park fee structure

 

http://cal-parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=737

 

I’ll step down now.

 

http://home.earthlink.net/~whidbeywalk/

[+Whidbey Walk]

I understand the financial need of the park system. I understand the logic of user fees. I would actually consider myself a supporter of a day use fee for our state parks. What I can’t support is a system that charges fees considerably higher than surrounding states. I also have a problem with a system that could cost up to 40% of the fees collected. I just don’t feel right throwing so much money away.

 

The State had WSU conduct a survey of residents to find “data on the maximum acceptable day-use rates for charging per person and per car, and for an annual pass. “ Unfortunately, only half of the respondents had even visited a state park in the past two years. I don’t think they got an accurate view of park user opinions. I don’t think Washington residents should be willing to pay twice what is charged in Oregon, Idaho, and even California. Let’s let the State Park Commission and our elected officials know how we feel.

 

Summary of Washington State Parks

Customer Focus Survey

Research by Washington State University, June 2000

http://www.governor.wa.gov/quality/archive/parks/survey.htm

Oregon State Park fee structure

 

http://www.oregonstateparks.org/dayuse_permit.php

 

Idaho State Park fee structure

 

http://www.idahoparks.org/parks/passes.html#State%20Parks

 

California State Park fee structure

 

http://cal-parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=737

 

I’ll step down now.

 

http://home.earthlink.net/~whidbeywalk/