show me the money

[rat]

apologies if this has been posted elsewhere:

 

WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091

http://wdfw.wa.gov

LAND LINE NEWS NOTES

 

November 2010

 

Sustainable funding proposed for state lands

 

State lands are crucial to Washington's quality of life-providing habitat for fish and wildlife, and access for recreation activities that generate billions of dollars annually for Washington's economy.

 

Spending by recreational fishers, hunters, wildlife watchers, boaters, hikers, horseback riders and other users of state lands supports small businesses and creates jobs across Washington, particularly in rural communities.

 

But the economic engine, conservation benefit, and recreation access offered by state lands all are at risk due to the lack of stable, sustainable funding for land maintenance.

 

The state budget crisis has left its mark on an array of important state services, including state lands. As state revenues declined during the current recession, state General Fund support to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has been slashed by 33 percent in the current 2009-11 biennium. More cuts are expected in the coming 2011-13 biennium.

 

This budget crisis has taken a toll on WDFW's ability to care for the 900,000 acres of recreational land and 700 water-access sites the agency manages. WDFW's land operation and management budget has been cut by nearly $2 million over the past several years, from $10.8 million to an anticipated $8 million next biennium. As state revenues continue to decline those cuts could grow deeper.

 

"Even before the budget crisis, we faced a backlog of maintenance needs on state lands, including weed control, habitat restoration, fencing, visitor facilities and other infrastructure needs," said WDFW Lands Program Manager Jennifer Quan." We recruit volunteers for some of this work, but we still need to fund equipment, materials and professional staff to coordinate projects."

 

Unless new funding sources can be found to address critical operation and maintenance needs, some of these recreation lands face closure.

 

Over 5.6 million acres of state recreation lands managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) face similar threats. The Sustainable Recreation Work Group, a citizen panel created by the Washington Legislature in 2008, recognized the need for a long-term, dedicated funding source for maintenance of state recreation lands. Based on this panel's recommendations DNR proposed legislation in the 2010 legislative session to have the ability to charge an access fee. The proposed legislation made it through the house but ran out of time in the Senate.

 

For the 2011 legislative session, the DNR and WDFW are jointly proposing new legislation to create stable, dedicated funding for state recreation lands. The legislative proposal includes several key features:

 

An increase in the portion of Washington's gas tax revenues available to DNR, WDFW and Washington State Parks for managing recreation lands for boaters, snowmobilers and off-road vehicle riders. The proposal would calculate the one percent refund on the full 37.5-cent-per-gallon gas tax base, rather than at the current 22 cent-per-gallon rate, beginning in 2013. The gas tax refund change would provide about $250,000 annually in new funds for WDFW lands.

An "Explore Washington Pass" for access to WDFW and DNR lands. This pass would replace WDFW's current annual vehicle-use permit. Under the proposal, annual lands access pass would be $40 for general users age 19 and older, or $5 for those purchasing fishing or hunting licenses or a watchable-wildlife package. Short-term passes would be available at $20 for a three-day pass; $15 for a two-day pass; and $10 for a one-day pass. The passes would be sold through WDFW's existing WILD recreational licensing system. Revenue from the new pass, estimated at $5.5 million annually, would be split between WDFW and DNR for land management capital, operational, maintenance and enforcement needs.

A $10 increase in the cost of personalized license plates (raising the cost of new plates from $42 to $52, and renewals from $32 to $42 annually). The change would generate an estimated $1.3 million in additional revenue each biennium, dedicated to habitat work for threatened and endangered species on WDFW lands.

Provisions that would allow WDFW and DNR to jointly enforce land use regulations, and would allow the agencies to seek restitution from those who damage state lands.

Comments on this legislative proposal can be emailed to explore@dnr.wa.gov . Updates on the funding proposal will be available through future Landline news notes and on WDFW's website.

 

Detailed information about recreational opportunities on WDFW Wildlife Areas can be found at http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/ . Water access sites (boat launch) information can be found at http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/water_access/ .

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Visit the WDFW Land Line Archive: http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/landline/

 

[genepires]

voters want services without the taxation that is required to pay for it.

[summitchaserCJB]

taxers want the payment without the votes required to serve it.

[num1mc]

taxers want the payment without the votes required to serve it.

 

Aren't you in Middle school or something?

[CPOly]

Sounds good, but then the Legislature takes that projected revenue amount and subtracts that much from the general fund allotment for those agencies. So IF you hit the projected amount in revenue, you end up back at ground zero. If you don't hit the amount then you're worse off than when you started!

[summitchaserCJB]

taxers want the payment without the votes required to serve it.

 

Aren't you in Middle school or something?

No, I've graduated college.

You?

Edited November 6, 2010 by summitchaserCJB

[DPS]

I've graduated college.

 

If I had to guess from which college it would be some type of sunday school for big kids like Seattle Pacific 'University' or Bob Jones 'University'.

[num1mc]

taxers want the payment without the votes required to serve it.

 

Aren't you in Middle school or something?

No, I've graduated college.

You?

 

In 1985

[summitchaserCJB]

thats when I was born.

[Lucky Larry]

voters want services without the taxation that is required to pay for it.

it appears they voted down the rich paying for it too

[summitchaserCJB]

I've graduated college.

 

If I had to guess from which college it would be some type of sunday school for big kids like Seattle Pacific 'University' or Bob Jones 'University'.

Ya I went to SPU. Problem bro? First rate academics IMO. Not a research heavy school but some legit scholarship is going down for real. Plus look at the faculty to student ratio and compare that to UW. Kinda a no-brainer. I got to TA an A and P class, went to South Africa with prof's, was principal investigator on some research. Try getting that below the graduate level at most universities. Then check back and talk trash some more.

There are some seriously talented people that go there. Like way more talented than you or me. So before you go around talking about stuff you know nothing about, make sure you aren't talking to someone who knows way more about it than you. Friendly advice. :kisss:

and by the way,

the other year the pre-med students had a 100% acceptance rate. Ya, it's just a bible study essentially...

Edited November 12, 2010 by summitchaserCJB

[rat]

WDFW NEWS RELEASE

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091

http://wdfw.wa.gov/

 

February 2, 2011

 

Media Contacts:

Margaret Ainscough, WDFW, Public Affairs Director, 360-902-2408

Virginia Painter, Washington State Parks, 360-902-8562

Bryan Flint, DNR Communications and Outreach Director, 360-902-1023, bryan.flint@dnr.wa.gov

 

Legislation aims to maintain recreation access on state lands

Three agencies work together to offer single, vehicle access permit

 

OLYMPIA - The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and the state departments of Natural Resources (DNR) and Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) today announced they are co-requesting legislation that will reform state land management and maintain public access to state recreation lands.

 

SB 5622 ( http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5622 ) addresses the growing demand for recreation opportunities and the impacts of recreation on natural resources and wildlife by developing a reliable source of funding and improving law enforcement on state lands managed by the agencies. All three agencies have seen sharp declines in their budgets to provide adequate maintenance, improvements, and enforcement for recreation. The Governor's proposed budget removed state General Fund support for recreation on state lands in favor of a user-supported funding approach.

 

"As lawmakers discuss the most drastic budget cuts in state history, we need to align our revenues with our expectations about our quality of life," said State Senator Kevin Ranker (D-40th) ( http://www.sdc.wa.gov/senators/ranker/ ), the prime sponsor of the bill, said. "We need to talk about not just how much our outdoor recreation services cost, but also about how much it costs to lose them. Without this legislation, we will witness widespread closure of state parks and other public facilities. I am grateful for the leadership provided by Parks, DNR, and WDFW on this critical issue."

 

A companion bill, HB 1796 ( http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1796&year=2011 ), has been introduced in the House by Rep. Kevin Van De Wege (D-24th). One of the key components of the bill is the annual $30 pass that will enable the public to visit state lands managed by all three agencies with just a single pass.

 

"With State Parks moving off General Fund tax support, we need a new way to fund recreation, and a user-pay model seems to be the fairest-those who use parks pay for them" said State Parks Director Don Hoch. "Working together with all three agencies that offer recreation on state lands is a great value for citizens. The public doesn't have to worry about whether they are on lands managed by State Parks, WDFW, or DNR. One permit gets them access."

 

"State general revenues are no longer a stable source of funding for outdoor recreation on state lands," said WDFW Director Phil Anderson. "This proposal will bring a greater degree of stability to state land maintenance and operation, and will ensure the public's ability to access state lands and waterways for outdoor recreation. We're eager to work with legislators and our fellow natural resource agencies to improve the legislation as we seek sustainable funding for state lands."

 

"DNR plays a significant role in providing recreation opportunities on state trust lands," said Bryan Flint, DNR's Communications and Outreach Director. "Places such as Mount Si, Tahuya State Forest, and Lake Spokane are very popular recreation areas that we manage."

 

The bill, as introduced:

 

Creates an annual, singular pass -called the "Discover Pass"-that will enable the public to visit lands managed by Parks, WDFW, and DNR. The pass will cost $30 per year per vehicle or $10 for day use.

Improves public safety , by giving law enforcement officers from each agency the authority to issue natural resource infractions on land managed by any of the agencies.

Provides a free annual pass to volunteers who donate 40 hours of their time working on volunteer projects sanctioned by the agencies.

Aligns DNR's recreational immunity with that of the other state agencies.

Specifies how each agency must spend the revenue generated by the Discover Pass.

Revenue from the sales of the pass will be split among the three agencies in the following manner: DNR and WDFW will each receive 7.5 percent and State Parks will receive 85 percent. Both DNR and WDFW would receive an estimated $5.5 million per biennium and State Parks would receive $61 million. Revenues in excess of $71 million would be distributed evenly among the agencies. The pass proceeds would partially offset reductions in state General Fund support to all three agencies.

 

Recreation on Washington state lands

State lands managed by DNR, State Parks, and WDFW provide millions of acres of recreation opportunities for citizens of the state and for the millions for visitors who come to Washington to enjoy and experience its exceptional outdoor places.

 

 

 

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[genepires]

would this pass pay for things like repairing roads that we use? Nope.

 

Actually, what areas do climbers frequent that this pass would be needed? Seems like most places we go need a forest pass. (peshastin is a state park but it already has a fee?) Seems like this is a hit to the normal family recreationist.

 

(don't get me wrong, I am not claiming to agree with the pass)

[RuMR]

I've graduated college.

 

If I had to guess from which college it would be some type of sunday school for big kids like Seattle Pacific 'University' or Bob Jones 'University'.

Ya I went to SPU. Problem bro? First rate academics IMO. Not a research heavy school but some legit scholarship is going down for real. Plus look at the faculty to student ratio and compare that to UW. Kinda a no-brainer. I got to TA an A and P class, went to South Africa with prof's, was principal investigator on some research. Try getting that below the graduate level at most universities. Then check back and talk trash some more.

There are some seriously talented people that go there. Like way more talented than you or me. So before you go around talking about stuff you know nothing about, make sure you aren't talking to someone who knows way more about it than you. Friendly advice. :kisss:

and by the way,

the other year the pre-med students had a 100% acceptance rate. Ya, it's just a bible study essentially...

now i have heard just about everything!