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'Tax in the box' not the way
to fund state parks
By Rep. Dan
Kristiansen
We live in some of the
most beautiful recreational areas in the world. Our state parks are
chosen destination spots of Washingtonians and out-of-state visitors
looking for a getaway or a relaxing weekend. State parks also generate
millions of dollars for local economies.
Rockport State Park, near
Concrete, is a good example. Rockport attracted many campers, who also
stopped in neighboring communities, where they spent money at gas
stations, restaurants and grocery stores. When the state closed Rockport
to overnight camping due to dangerous old-growth trees, it affected the
local economy, even though day-use of the park is still allowed.
Now as local economies
suffer through a recession, numerous state parks are being proposed for
closure as a cost-saving measure, including Wallace Falls State Park.
Just like Rockport,
Wallace Falls is an economic driver for Gold Bar, Index, Startup and
Sultan. People come to enjoy the falls and hike the surrounding trails,
and they spend money in nearby communities. Closure of this park could
be devastating to local jobs.
The importance of state
parks to our economy and the quality of life we enjoy in Washington
cannot be understated. That's why it should be one of the higher
funding priorities in our state budget.
Yet it is precisely this
reason why state parks are being targeted for closure as Washington
faces a $9 billion budget deficit. People love their state parks -- and
those in power in the Legislature know few would want to give them up.
So it's an easy target to promote a tax increase, rather than
prioritizing state parks in the budget.
In 2006, the Legislature
repealed a $5 day-use fee to give more people access to state parks.
Majority Democrats initially proposed to expand the fee to vehicle
license tabs. That proposal was changed to an "opt-in" feature which now
allows people to voluntarily choose to pay $5 when they renew their
license tabs. This year, however, the majority party wants to change the
voluntary opt-in fee to an opt-out fee. This means unless you willingly
check the "opt-out" box on your license tabs, you would be charged this
$5 fee.
I am concerned that
citizens, especially the elderly, who receive their vehicle license tabs
by mail will not be aware of this "tax in a box" and will pay it without
knowing it was not required. It's a sneaky way to slip a hidden fee to
unsuspecting taxpayers. Majority lawmakers playing on the emotions of
those who love state parks are using it as a way gain support for a tax
increase.
Citizens have the
opportunity in several ways to support our parks, including buying a
state parks vehicle license plate -- $28 of which goes toward funding
parks. I also question if we do not have enough money to support our
current parks, why is it that a large percentage of an $80 million
appropriation in the proposed capital construction budget is directed
for acquisition of additional land for parks and trails? Shouldn't we
redirect that money to existing parks?
We can do better than a
camouflaged tax-in-the-box for parks. This is about priorities.
Funding state parks should be part of our baseline budget. Closing parks
would create more job losses during this difficult recession. Increasing
taxes on families who have lost jobs is a bad idea. And imposing a
secret tax-in-the-box on unsuspecting citizens is wrong. It's not the
way we should fund state parks.
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EDITOR'S NOTE:
State Rep. Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish,
represents the 39th Legislative District, and also serves as chairman of
the Washington House Republican Caucus. He can be contacted at (360)
786-7967 or from his Web site at:
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Kristiansen.
For more information, contact:
John
Sattgast, Senior Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
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