California State Parks narrowly missed massive closures this past year due to the fiscal crisis and a diminishing budget. Hoping not to be doomed to the same fate as the Arizona State Parks, California State Parks and other organizations have created the State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010.
This measure, if it receives the required 430,000 signatures, will be placed on the November 2010 ballot. This will possibly determine the destiny of the park system well into the future.
The act would add $18 to California's annual vehicle licensing fees raising about $500 million each year for state parks, wildlife, and some other projects.
The $500 million would be split 85 percent to state parks and 15 percent to the other conservation efforts,such as the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and California Tahoe Conservancy.
In return for their votes, California vehicle owners would get free day admission to all state parks, year-round, with two or three uses covering the extra license fee.
Great idea... Come on Arizona, get your act together. If California can do it so can your state.
ReplyDeleteArizona, you had better rethink this.
ReplyDeleteRVers love State Parks, but yours aren't the only ones around. We bring millions into the state's coffers where ever we stay.
We can always stay in NM, it is on the way, and their State Parks are very reasonable.
Happy Trails, Penny, TX
This would cost me $54 with no guarenty any of the money will go to the only State Park I use which is now closed 4 days a week. Give them more money to waste on "other projects" not my money.
ReplyDeleteRead the posts under the Arizona article, not much support there for more taxes. The people who get screwed to raise this money will have no say in where and how the money will be spent or more likely wasted. Get rid of the politicians who drove us into this mess, that's where to start.
ReplyDeleteThe state govt already raised my taxes on my vehicle. Raising taxes whether they call it a fee or tax is not the answer. You can't keep asking tax payers to bail out our incompetent state govt. People are already leaving the California sinking ship in droves. It is just a matter of time before they go bankrupt.
ReplyDeleteOur vehicle registration fees in California are outrageous.Sales tax in LA county is now 9.75%.It's time for the state to look elsewhere. Not one more dime out of me!
ReplyDeleteI agree...I already pay enough to this state in taxes, and who knows (?) will this money actually go to the state parks I use!!!!??? I am sick and tired of the politicians who make big bucks, telling me, who makes little bucks to pay more to use that which I should be able to use (because I am a resident)and can't because I need to use some 800 number and the park is already FULL....only to drive by it and find that it is 1/2 full!!!! Forget it Arnold, use your
ReplyDeleteOWN money!!!!!!
Since we have 6 cars, all older, plus our motorhome...well you do the math. As several people before me have stated, not one more penny to our incompentant State Government. Those of us who live here know that our State constantly raises taxes, fees, whatever you want to call them, promising to "fix" this or that, and before you know it, the money is going to something different, not what you signed up for. We were promised a balanced budget, how many years ago...no, no, no more!
ReplyDeleteAs a CA resident, I have to agree with many peoples arguement that we already pay enough in taxes and fees to state government officials with outrageous salary + bonuses that, in turn, pay contractors an insane amount to do a job that they will not finish without having to go back and ask for more money due to "unexpected" or "unforeseen" costs...and they get the extra money because our officals will just raise or create another tax/fee to cover the cost.
ReplyDeleteI, also, see the arguement to create this trust fund act. However, a great majority of taxpaying voters will, if this act is placed on the ballot, vote "NO" because he/she already feels they are paying the state enough of their own money. As much as I would not like to see our state parks shut down, I too will probably vote "NO" on this measure as well because, like others have stated, I doubt any part of the money will actually make it to the parks.