Protect Washington's Public Lands in the State Budget

As you have probably heard, Washington state's budget has a $9 billion deficit. In light of this gap, budget writers are putting together proposals to keep the state running for the next two years, and many state programs and agencies face deep cuts.  The House is proposing to partially fill the budget hole by moving dedicated recreation money into the general fund and by closing many State Parks. These actions would have a devastating impact on our outdoor recreational opportunities.

Fortunately, the proposed Senate budget released last week has some good news for public lands. It keeps all State Parks open on the same basis as they are today. The Senate budget proposal includes anticipated revenues from a proposed $5 fee on vehicle registrations. Individuals will have the choice to opt out of paying the $5 fee when registering a vehicle, so the fee will be voluntary. Lead senators on the budget have indicated a strong commitment to keeping parks open even if this revenue fails to fully materialize in the coming months.

In addition, the Senate budget  leaves the Non-highway and Off-road Vehicle Activities (NOVA) Program funds intact.  NOVA is a refund of fuel tax generated by people using roads that the state is not responsible for maintaining, such as Forest and National Park Service roads. Keeping this program means there will be dedicated funds that state and federal land managers can use for trail and facility maintenance as well as education and enforcement.

While the Senate budget protects Washington's public lands, we are not out of the woods yet.  We must ensure that the Senate version of the budget is implemented.

What You Can Do:

It is time to call and thank your senators, and urge your representatives and Governor Gregoire to support the Senate budget, since it protects State Parks, trails and outdoor recreation.

Please call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000. It is open from 8am to 8pm, Monday through Friday, and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. You can also email your representatives here.

 
Thank you for speaking out for hikers!