Article by Erik Smith. Published on Friday, January 27, 2012 EST.

Big Shortfall Looms for State Parks, Recreation Lands as Pass Sales Falter

By Krista Norsworthy

Staff Writer/ Washington State Wire

OLYMPIA, Jan. 27. – The state’s much-touted Discover Pass program is shaping up as a $24 million flop, a House panel was told Thursday. That’s how much parks officials say the state will run short – and they’re being optimistic when they say it.

            Lawmakers launched the pass program to make up for the $64 million they whacked from state parks and other recreational lands programs last year in the current two-year state budget. Motorists who stop are required to display either the $30 annual pass or a $10 day pass, on pain of a $99 ticket.

            But now that the sales figures are finally in for the first six months, it seems clear the state has a dud on its hands. Sales have been dismal, at least measured against the state’s expectations.

By the end of December, officials had hoped to raise $19.4 million for the three state agencies that get the money, the bulk of it for the state parks. Instead, the pass program had raised $8.2 million. That’s a whopping $11.2 million shortfall already, just a quarter of the way through the two-year budget cycle. State officials are projecting a $24 million shortfall by the time the biennium ends June 30, 2013.

The dismal news was delivered to the House Government Appropriations and Oversight Committee Thursday as it considered a series of bills aimed to make the program more appealing. Most of them shoot for the same target – increasing the number of cars that might be allowed under a single pass. 

Advocates for the state parks system say it’s a start, but it’s going to take more than that.

“Parks are in a terminal crisis,” said Peter Reed, chairman of the Washington State Parks Foundation, as he offered an endorsement of one House proposal. “Costs are bleeding out the door at the moment, and it’s important to move House Bill 2153 forward because it has a chance to create revenue.”

Dismal Projection is Optimistic

            That shortfall projection actually could be much worse. Right now the state is 58 percent off the mark, and if sales continue at the same anemic rate, the state would be a whopping $38 million short in 2013.

            But Virigina Painter, spokeswoman for the state Parks and Recreation Commission, said the agencies think things might pick up in the next few months as the public becomes accustomed to the pass. So they’re figuring on an ultimate shortfall of around 30 percent.

             The way the money is divvied, parks gets 84 percent of the money and the departments of Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife split the rest. By itself, Parks and Recreation Commission revenue is down $13 million so far this biennium. Already it has begun announcing layoffs.

Search for Blame

State officials, parks advocates and lawmakers are scratching their heads and trying to figure out what went wrong. The most popular scapegoat appears to be the transferability problem. Right now the pass can only be used in a single vehicle, and families that own more than one car must buy more than one pass.

 A November survey conducted by Washington State University under the direction of the three agencies indicated lack of transferability was a major reason for public dissatisfaction. And there are plenty of approaches. HB 2153, sponsored by state Rep. Zack Hudgins, D-Tukwila, and Senate Bill 5977, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Ranker, each would allow a purchaser to write a second license number on his or her pass. Other proposals would allow the same pass to be used by all vehicles registered to a single address.

 But those aren’t the only guesses. Some say the pass was put on the market too quickly. Some say the rules are confusing. Parks officials maintain public awareness was low, and they chalk it up to a marketing problem.

“It’s a challenge to reach people,” said Steve Milner of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

But State Rep. Chris Hurst, D-Enumclaw said there is plenty about the program that has just rubbed people the wrong way. Parks users were furious when they discovered they had to pay $5 vendor fees on top of pass costs, he said. It is especially nettlesome for those who purchase online – Internet sales actually save the state money. “It’s such a convenience to sell these things over the Internet,” Hurst said. “It really made people angry.”

In all, five Discover Pass bills are being considered by the House committee. Among other things, they would eliminate vendor fees, requiring the program to absorb the cost. Others would offer a 50 percent discount on passes when purchased in conjunction with campsites or certain hunting and fishing permits. One would allow people to park their cars and use an off-road vehicle without buying a second pass.

And then there’s a proposal that might be considered a blank slate, with the details to be filled in later. House Bill 2528 is a “title only” bill, stating merely that it is “relating to the Discover Pass” – a measure that would give lawmakers the chance to write something entirely new late in the session.

            Bigger Say

Some user groups the passes might be an easier sell if purchasers could decide where the money goes.   

            Jim Putman of the Pacific Northwest Four-Wheel Drive Association is a supporter of HB 2153, but says he’d rather give his money to DNR.

            “As 4-wheel-drive users we use the Department of Natural Resources land, and quite honestly felt we got the short end of the stick in the whole pass idea,” Putman said.

            As parks advocates grimly look toward 2013, when more cuts are in the offing, they say success of the program is more critical than ever. Linda Gough, president of Preserve Our Parks, said it may keep the program alive.

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