Nearly half of drivers opt not to pay $5 for state parks

Nearly half of state drivers, when renewing their vehicle licenses, are opting not to pay an extra $5 to support state parks.

Officials blame the economy.

Since the program started in September, 51.5 percent of car owners have volunteered to pay the extra $5, according to Virginia Painter of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

That's enough to keep the parks open. Before the Legislature last year tacked the $5 onto vehicle-renewal notices, there was talk that about 40 parks would have to close, said Painter.

Historically, state parks have relied on general-fund tax dollars, but the 2009-2011 budget reduced the general-fund allocation for the parks by $52 million in hopes the donations would help make up the difference. State parks officials said about $1.2 million a month was needed over the biennium; the average collected through December was $1.1 million.

State officials couldn't forecast what the rejection rate would be because the program is so new, said Painter. She also said people who mistakenly agree to the $5 donation can ask for a refund if they don't want to pay the parks fee.

"So far, the donations are coming in under the line of what's needed, but we're squeaking by," said Rex Derr, state parks director. "The commission is optimistic about the program because we know how much people love their state parks."

In the 2007-09 biennium, general-fund money made up 66 percent of the state parks' operating budget. Under the new donation program, only 30 percent is financed by the general fund and 47 percent from the donation collections, plus money earned in parks fees.

The money goes to everything from rangers' salaries to fixing plumbing. To save money last year, state parks froze travel, hiring and spending, cut staff and consolidated offices.

The commission is working to hand over some state parks to four park jurisdictions: Wenberg, north of Everett, would go to Snohomish County; Tolmie in Thurston County to the county, the city of Lacey or the Nisqually Tribe; Osoyoos Lake to the town of Oroville or the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Eastern Washington; and Fort Ward on Bainbridge Island to the city of Bainbridge.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com