Discover Pass isn’t bringing in as much money as predicted
January 25, 2012
By Staff
Nearly six months after being implemented, the Discover Pass hasn’t brought in the revenue state budget officials had hoped the program would.
Now, the state’s park system is grappling with a revenue shortfall that could be as high as $30 million.
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission officials adopted a plan Dec. 7 to cut $11 million from its existing budget by laying off or reshuffling 160 employees.
The plan will keep parks open, but “users will be somewhat effected,” agency spokeswoman Virginia Painter said.
Some services could be limited as the agency moves it’s staffing to a more seasonal model, she said.
Underwhelming results
The Discover Pass has not performed as state officials expected it would when the state Legislature created it earlier this year. The pass is required for almost 7 million acres managed by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, the state Department of Natural Resources and Washington State Parks and Recreation.
But it hasn’t been able to make up for the severe budget cuts that the parks agency has endured in recent years.
In 2009, the agency got 66 percent of its operating funds from the state general fund. Legislators cut that to 30 percent in 2010 as part of efforts to close the state’s massive budget gap.
This year, parks receive only about 12 percent of their $133.6 million operating fund from the state.
“We expect it will be zero in 2013,” Painter said.
During the last legislative session in spring 2011, lawmakers set aside $17 million in “bridge” funding to transition the agency off of general fund dollars, and they created the Discover Pass, a parking fee for state parks and state-managed recreation lands. Users could either buy a $30 annual pass or a $10 daily pass.
“It’s not been meeting projections set for our budget by the Legislature,” Painter said.
Sales had been projected at $65 million during the first 24 months that the pass, which became available in July, was sold.
After four months, the Discover Pass has brought in $7.2 million.
That puts it on pace to raise $43.2 million in its first 24 months.
Money raised from sales of the pass is split between parks, DNR, and Fish and Wildlife. The parks agency gets 85 percent, while the other two departments split the remainder.
“The situation would be bleak if Discover Pass and other revenues do not increase,” State Parks Director Don Hoch said in a statement. “Our goal is to keep parks open, but we need the help and support of the public to do that.”
The agency operates the Iron Horse and Olallie state parks in the upper Snoqualmie Valley.
Parks officials are hoping the pass can generate more money in the future.
“We’re continuing to do public education, but we’re really at the beginning,” Painter said.
The agency is also considering ways to change the pass to boost sales, like making it transferable between vehicles.
Officials also urged Washington residents to purchase a Discover Pass to shore up funding for state parks and public lands.
“The Discover Pass is a vital funding source for state parks,” commission Chairman Joe Taller said in a statement. “We are asking the public to support and protect state parks by purchasing the Discover Pass.”
Reporter Warren Kagarise contributed to this article.
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