Bill could cost state parks its key funding source

A bill that proposes changing how Montana collects money for state parks through light-vehicle registrations could cost the state about $1.6 million in fiscal year 2012 and nearly $3 million a year starting in 2013.

Senate Bill 13, introduced by Sen. John Brenden, R-Scobey, and co-sponsored by Sen. Jon Sonju, R-Kalispell, would increase the optional vehicle registration fee from $4 to $25 while changing it from an “opt-out” fee to an “opt-in” fee.

That means people who register their vehicles would need to check a box agreeing to pay a $25 fee, as opposed to the current system where they must check a box saying they don’t want to pay a $4 fee.

Locally, the loss of money could adversely affect operations at Whitefish and Les Mason state parks on Whitefish Lake, as well as Finley Point, Wayfarers, Yellow Bay, Wild Horse Island, West Shore, Big Arm and Woods Bay state parks or fishing access sites on Flathead Lake and state facilities at Blanchard and Beaver lakes.

SB 13, which was approved by the Senate’s Finance and Claims Committee by 11-7 on Feb. 15, was scheduled to go to the Senate floor on Feb. 19 but instead went back to the Finance and Claims Committee.

Sen. Ryan Zinke, R-Whitefish, who sits on the committee, said he vows to fight it when the committee meets on Feb. 22.

“Basically, the bill defunds state parks,” he said.

Sonju, who also sits on the committee, said that although he is listed as a co-sponsor for SB 13, he could not support it because funding for state parks would evaporate.

“We’re going to look at other ways to fund the parks,” Sonju said. “I won’t support it unless we have another funding solution.”

According to the fiscal note accompanying SB 13, about 23 percent of the 975,708 light-vehicle registrations in fiscal year 2010 had the box checked to opt out of paying the $4 fee. About $2.6 million went to state parks, $188m196 went to fishing access sites and $187,642 went to the Montana Heritage Commission for state-owned facilities in Virginia City and Nevada City,

The Governor’s Office of Budget and Program Planning, which prepared the fiscal note, states that the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks found that in Washington state, when it had an “opt-in” program, had a participation rate of 2-3 percent. The fiscal note also takes into account growth of light-vehicle registrations.

Assuming a participation rate of 3 percent as opposed to 77.1 percent currently, the fiscal note states, revenue collected for state parks, fishing access sites and the Montana Heritage Commission is estimated to decline from $3.1 million to $1.5 million in fiscal year 2012 and by nearly $3 million a year for the next three years starting in fiscal year 2013.