That has to be a typo.
I will now have to pay, to volunteer, to teach aquatic education to local elementary students?

Something is wrong with this wording.

I think the recreational community needs a new negotiator . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPHuE5pDlEs

What was the $5.00 Car Tab Add On/Opt out all about. From what I was told, it was for the same thing, the State Parks. I have 4 -vehicles x$5=$20 spent towards this, Now??? This new "Boaters Card" Safety course I just took online $29.95+$10.00 state Fee , is supposed to make us all safer boaters and save lives. I got to thinking, this should qualify me for a big discount on my boaters insurance policy. Called Progressive and low and behold, yes.it does qualify me for a discount. They responded that my discount would be refunded on my last years 2010-2011 policy and that they would credit/revise this years rate as well Yoo Hoo!!!! I received it in the mail. Grand total, $1.00 . Thats right, a whole buck off, now that I'm a bonafide and "registered"safe boater in their eyes and The Good ol' state o' Warshintun. Wow, What a scam.

According to the discover pass web site it states, Please note* "You may continue to DONATE to the washington State parks when you license your vehicle. " If this isn't going to fund state parks , then its been totally misleading. When they started this year to threaten us with closures, I said the heck with it, and opted out of the $5 add ons.

The Gov can kiss my ass on this! I'll let a judge sort this one out, if my vehicle pass isn't good enough to fish ALL state lands then I'm gonna get a ticket. I'll see you in court, you fktards!

The dumb asses in government and agencies still don't get it. Tax people or levy fees related to outdoor use and use declines. Businesses lose, people lose and the state loses more revenue than they eventually bring in with these stupid ideas.

How about investing some of the funds they already have, improving areas, boat launches etc., over the years to draw more people into outdoor activities, which fuels business, jobs, and makes for increased revenues to the state.

Of course you would have to actually manage as intended from day one, and now do away with all the needless, dipstick programs WDFW and other agencies have added, some of which mandated by the idiots in state government.

The one thing that says it all to me, was when WDFW decided after 40 plus years that you could now buy the privilege to two pole for $24.50 in some lakes, when it had been illegal for as long as I could remember.

Every decision they make is opposite of where they should be going. WDFW used to be recognized as a leader nationally 30-40 years ago. Now it's just your typical politically correct, pay more, get less state agency.

As for my personalized plate on my summer only Camaro SS convertible.....no more. Just a regular plate. My way of leveling the playing field. You take more from me....I'll give less to you.

The $5.00 donation does not go into the General Fund, it goes directly to Washington State Parks (Ref 2009-2010 bill 2339). I agree with the "pet peeve" all of the people using WDFW access sites without buying a parking permit. While WDFW receives monies from all of the taxpayers it is only hunters, fishermen, and a few birdwatchers who pay to use the lands. Maybe the Discover Pass will spread the cost around more equally.

For everyone that thinks a $30.00 pass to access state lands, waters, and parks is a ripoff fee and you are going to quit using them you probably won't be missed. There is no shortage of people willing to pay the $30.00, particularly if it will replace the present fees to access many sites. I just returned from 2 nights at Fort Casey State Park, $22 per night , launch fee included. I didn't check the launch fee for those not camping but I am guessing it to be $6 -$8. The 6 boaters launching and staying in the campground were joined by another 60 to 80 boats launching ever day. The parking area was full and rigs were parked for some distance along the highway. A $30.00 pass would pay for itself after 5 launches. The Seattle park launch fees are $10.00 and the annual permit is $150.00, expensive but the parking areas will be over flowing this summer with pinks added to the salmon fishing mix. Launching at a state managed ramp for a $30.00 annual fee would be a bargain. Most fishermen spend more than $30.00 a trip for gas, bait, and beer. If the Discover Pass helps to keep ramps and parks open, toilets cleaned, and garbage picked up and spreads the cost to all users I am all for it. My one question is it's application to DNR lands which for the most part are managed for commercial purposes. I am not sure that the DNR need the additional funding. I would hope that the money goes to WDFW and State Parks.

I would also point out that Washington is not alone in having problems funding access to public lands. I recently returned from a 3 week camping road trip in the southwest deserts. Other than BLM lands, camping in CA, AZ, and NV in state parks cost more than here. National Forest access and camping is about the same as here and National Parks are quite expensive unless you are old enough to qualify for the Golden Eagle Pass. In all the states remote or less popular areas are closed and many are gated so that you can't access the areas at all.

Hey WN1A I'll tell you why $30 is a rip off, it's because my tax dollars have already purchased the land. That's like my bank suddenly starting to charge me $30 dollars a year to park at my house. They aren't managing the park system on the backs of hunters and fishers, this is just an underhanded way of raising taxes. When times are tough they need more money....but does anyone see this going away when times get better? I haven't received a raise in quite some time but the cost of EVERYTHING has gone up. So based on the logic that this is a good idea, I should go in and ask for a raise because MY cost of operating my life is more, right? Of course then I would be foregoing any responsibility to take a look at my current income and shelve some of my nonpriority expenditures....oops now I'm describing the people who are going to charge me $30 to use land I already own.

Seems reasonable, NOT! I'm never voting for another Democrat, ever.

Yeah, you bought your house. How much do you spend annually to maintain it? Paint, repairs, yard care? How much do you pay to operate it such as water, power?

Maintaining the lands is not free. Just where is that money suppsed to come from?

It not just the cost of maintaining and operating his house, there is also the matter of property taxes. Mine are now almost 10% of what the original cost of the house was 30 years ago. Where I live in Seattle if I want to park on the street, in my neighborhood, for more than 2 hours during the day a Residential Parking Zone permit is required ($30.00). If the banks don't get your money the government will.

True. What I am getting at is that simply buying the property does not take care of it. Where is that money comung from?

Hey Carcassman,
Aren't you a retired WDFW employee? So won't you essentially always be in favor of higher fees to keeps government going as your retirement wouldn't be there unless taxes keep coming in?

And it goes to show that my analogy still stands, as the maintainence cost come out of my ever level INCOME. Like my original post states very simply, I can't go and simply raise my income, I have to make choices if my roof leaks, or my window breaks, or whatever. It's called being responsible, and factoring that in when I determined what I could AFFORD when I purchased a house. Seems like you seem to be saying before the recession the parks were managed in an unsustainable way, or why weren't we charged a pass fee then?

The state is going to take in 2% more in taxes than the previous year, the shortfall is because they were going to spend way more than the 2% increase of revenue. In my mind if I was to get a 2% raise I don't expect to spend 10% and bet on asking my boss for an 8% raise to keep my expected EXENDITURES going, but this $30 fee is what you as a retired government employee seem to be justifying as a reasonable way to address this situation. I'll have some of what you're smoking please.

I need some more halibut bait. I think I'll take the Governor fishing.

As an Oregonian, all I have to say is the fishing better be good to make me have to figure out if I have all the right passes. I don't know who manages all the land I fish up there. Some of those places I only fish every few years or so. Why not just raise the price of the liscence? I pay almost as much for an Oregon resident's liscence and tag as I do an out-of-state Washington liscence and tag. I'd rather it be simple and cost more.

Absolutely right. When income is not sufficient you either find a way to raise income or cut back on spending. The Leg screwed things up for a long time and is now paying the piper.

As for the State Retirement, the taxpayers, through their elected representative (Gov and Leg) CHOSE not to fund it for years in lieu of not raising taxes or cutting services.

So, if you don't want to raise taxes or fees, then we will do without "something". No problem there.

Those government services have to be paiud for somehow. Schools, fire, police, roads, F&W, whatever. As the old saying goes, ya get what you pay for.

The above is not to in any way in support of the way the WA state gov has been doing business. But, we all have the way to fix that: vote.

I'd love to see the legislature impose a limit on the number of bills that each member could introduce during a session. They'd have to think long and hard about what is really important.

Nothing new here and just another example of a policy that will fill the ever growing file of failed legislation by WA politicians.

I'd love to see the legislature impose a limit on the number of bills that each member could introduce during a session. They'd have to think long and hard about what is really important.

I heard you the first time, Dave.

OK, I'm going to beat a dead horse for a bit here. Below is a screen-shot off the WDFW site. On it you will see that the vehicle pass you got when you purchased your license sells for $12. OK, so get this......Why are we not being credited for the $12 already spent if we must purchase a Discover (Where My Wallet Is) Pass? Purchasing just the Discover Pass gives you access to all of the areas you got last year with just a vehicle pass, but this year cost you $42 ($30 + $12)

Here's Jennifer Quan's spiel on the subject......"Fishers and hunters already support WDFW recreation lands through their license fees, and that contribution was recognized in the legislation by waiving the Discover Pass requirement for most fishers and hunters on WDFW lands," said Jennifer Quan, WDFW’s land manager.

How do you like that hogwash?

Bullsh!t, Jennifer!! Refund my $12 or bill me for $18 more, but do NOT charge me for BOTH!!