Coloradans will now automatically be charged $29 for a state parks pass when they register their cars
By including the $29 Keep Colorado Wild parks pass with every vehicle registration, Colorado Parks and Wildlife could see additional revenue for search and rescue, avalanche education and more staff to help manage record traffic at 43 state parks.
Starting in 2023, license plate renewals will include an annual state parks pass, with an option to not pay the $29 fee if drivers choose.
By focusing on quantity — there were 6.5 million vehicles registered in Colorado in 2021 — the Colorado Wild Pass legislation is expected to generate more revenue each year than the $22.9 million that came from annual pass sales in 2020. When revenue hits $32.5 million, money will be directed to volunteer search and rescue organizations and backcountry avalanche safety programs. At $36 million, the tap switches to direct money to build new state parks, better manage recreation outside of state parks, support trails, wildlife and diversity work.
It turns out that Michigan, Montana, and Washington also include fees (than possibly can be opted out of)
Colorado Department of Natural Resources director Dan Gibbs said his goal was to make sure everyone in Colorado chose to pay the fee and not opt out of the program.
Why does Gibbs think his opinion of how to fund his dept by taxing drivers matters? Of course he and every other govt employee are for taxes to fund their departments. That's how that works.
$29 isn't unreasonable i feel. (i could be wrong)
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