Developing Story
12:20 p.m.: Senate budget plan has fee to save state parks
Washington State Parks
View from Puffer Butte at Fields Spring State near Anatone
March 30, 2009, 12:23 pm
The Washington state Senate is proposing to keep open up to 33 parks targeted for mothballing by urging vehicle owners to pay an extra $5 to license cars and trucks.
The state had said dozens of parks, including Fields Spring State Park near Anatone, could be closed this year in an effort to save $23 million. But the Senate budget package includes legislation that would require people to opt out of a voluntary $5 donation when they license their vehicles. That is a change from the current system that simply asks people if they would like to donate the money.
The change is estimated to bring in an extra $28 million that would be dedicated to the maintenance and operation of state parks.
For more information on this story, see Tuesday's Lewiston Tribune.
