Dad had to purchase his $24 state park sticker with today’s entrance. As he made his transaction at the park office, I grabbed a yellow piece of paper titled, “Recreation Passport Replaces State Park Sticker – Fact Sheet.”

If you read this blog, chances are that you’ve read the MMBA Advocacy Forum threads pertaining to this funding change, or you’ve read one of the several articles I’ve posted on this blog with details or calls to action. I’m willing to bet that you are just as informed about this issue as anyone else. There is just one problem: what about the people whose birthdays are between January 1, 2011 and October 1, 2011?

End of the State Park Sticker

Two thousand ten (2010) marks the end of the state park windshield sticker. I’ve already purchased mine, and it will allow me entrance into the state parks and recreation areas. The last day this sticker will allow me into the parks is December 31, 2010.

Beginning of the Recreation Passport Fee

The Recreation Passport Fee will go into effect October 1, 2010. This is when those who renew their vehicle registration can opt to pay the $10 fee to access the parks. This recreation passport will allow them access into parks for the duration of their vehicular registration. For example, if Joe Blow’s birthday is on October 10, and he chooses to pay the $10 fee when he pays for his vehicle registration, he will have a “passport” until his birthday of the next year.

January 1 through September 30, 2011

If the sticker expires on December 31, 2010, and the last person to pay the passport fee doesn’t register until his or her birthday on September 30, 2011, how will that person access the parks from January through September? That’s a good question.

While dad was purchasing his 2010 sticker, I asked the DNR employee that question. Her answer: We don’t know, yet. The legislature still has to figure that out. Okay. Fair enough.

Another way of putting this is: there currently is no solution or answer to this problem or question. Just stay tuned. I’ll let you know when I find out.

License Plate Sticker

The DNR employee informed me that there will be a license plate sticker. Those who pay the recreation passport fee will receive a little sticker with a “P” to place on their license plates. I am assuming that this sticker will arrive in the mail with the vehicle registration sticker.

The State Park, Boating Access Site and Forest Recreation Passport Fee tie-barred, Senate Bills 388 and 389 passed in the Michigan Senate and went back to the Michigan House of Representatives for the second reading on December 3, 2009.

If the Senate bills are passed, Michigan drivers have the option of paying a $10 fee at the time of their annual vehicle registrations for entrance into Michigan’s state parks. This replaces the annual sticker that is currently in use.

The bill seems to have enough support to pass, but House Speaker Andy Dillon has created a roadblock. Rumor has it that Dillon desires to tie-bar the passport bills to other legislation that would double vehicle registrations in an effort to raise more money for Michigan roads. That means that if you are currently paying $100 per year for your vehicle registration, you will pay $200 per year if this legislation passes. Whether or not this rumor is true, Representative Dillon will not let the bills go to a vote.

Again, please bear with me and keep reading. This will be clarified.

Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance Executive Director Nancy Krupiarz has provided the following information.

Hello Everyone,

It’s fantastic that the state park passport bill to create a new source of revenue for state parks has finally moved through the Legislature to the last station in the process, that of being voted on by the House of Representatives. Senate Bills 388 and 389 have passed the Senate and have passed through the House Committee within the last few days. BUT, we have a problem. The Speaker of the House, Representative Andy Dillon (D-Redford), is holding up the bills from entering the House Floor for a vote. Why??? It is because there is a move to tie-bar these bills to other legislation which would double the vehicle registration rate to produce money for roads.

We believe the two issues should stand on their own. Our state parks and state trails are desperately in need of this new source of revenue. And it would actually lower the cost of a state park entrance fee and get more people enjoying these natural resource assets that Michigan has in these tough economic times. It is good for the state’s tourism and good for the people.

Please contact the Speaker of the House, Rep. Andy Dillon and urge him to let these bills go without a tie-bar to a vote in the House. We believe there is enough support from the House of Representatives to actually pass these bills and send them to the Governor. But it will take your voice to help them get there. Speaker Dillon’s office phone number is 517-373-0857. Please give him a call, and if you want to read up on the bill one more time before doing so, go to www.michiganlegislature.org and plug in the bill number, 388 and then 389 to see the bill information. Thank you and if you know of any of Speaker Dillon’s constituents in Redford and Dearborn, please also take the time to contact them and have them call as a constituent in support of sending these bills for a vote.

Thank you for whatever you can do at this critical point. Our state parks and trails are at their breaking point!

Nancy Krupiarz
Executive Director
Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance

This is a good time to contact your representatives regarding this issue. Proponents of the State Park, Boating Access Site and Forest Recreation Passport Fee would like to keep this legislation separate and have this passport fee pass independent of any other legislation. This is very important.

You will find more in-depth information regarding the State Park, Boating Access Site and Forest Recreation Passport Fee by clicking here. The only difference you will see between the House and Senate bills is that the Senate bills offer the “pure choice” method. Pure choice means that vehicle registrants will be required to check a box for either “yes” or “no” at the time of vehicle registration. The House bills, which are not moving forward, promoted an opt-out checkbox.

Please contact your senator and representative as well as House Speaker Andy Dillon regarding this issue. Find your senator and representative by clicking on the following links:

• Michigan State Representatives

• Michigan State Senators

Here are some sample letters from which you may work. Keep in mind that these letters express my personal opinion and situation regarding both bills, so you may have to make the appropriate changes if you do not agree with my stance.

[Insert salutation to Rep. Andy Dillon here],

I understand that there is discussion within the House of Representatives regarding Senate Bills 388 and 389 and that you will not allow this legislation to go to a vote.

There is strong public support for this legislation, and need for this new funding method. As our current system stands, the state parks are no longer adequately funded and we are in danger of losing some of our valuable public lands. This is simply unacceptable.

The people have spoken with numerous phone calls, letters, and emails. Our elected representatives are prepared to vote on our behalf as is meant to be. Please allow Senate Bills 388 & 389 to go to a vote.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Here is a letter concerning the rumored tie-bar:

[Insert salutation here],

I understand that there is discussion within the House of Representatives regarding Senate Bills 388 and 389. Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon would like to combine the Senate Bills with legislation regarding a mandatory increase in vehicle registration that would be used to fund our roads.

While I strongly support Senate Bills 388 & 389, I do not support Representative Dillon’s proposal to increase license plate fees. I am willing to oppose Senate Bills 388 & 389 if Dillon’s legislation is successfully tie-bared to these bills. This is not in the best interest of Michigan’s state parks, but I must consider my own cost of living, as well.

Please do not allow these bills to be tie-barred, and please pass Senate Bills 388 & 389 independent of any other legislation. Thank you for considering this important legislation.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Rumor of Dillon’s intention to raise license plate fees was reported by the Lansing State Journal, earlier this year. While it may not be true that this legislation is intended to be tie-barred to the passport bills, it is still a real consideration. I have fashioned the following letter opposing Representative Dillon’s vehicle registration increase proposal:

[Insert salutation here],

As a Michigan citizen who is currently struggling with finding employment, and as a citizen who is struggling to pay for Michigan’s no fault auto insurance, I can tell you that the Michigan legislature’s efforts to increase my cost of living may force me to become one of thousands of citizens who have left the state.

Mind you, I am still paying taxes and Michigan cannot afford to lose any more taxpayers. My 4% income tax far exceeds the income that Michigan would generate from raising my vehicle registration. In other words, losing me to another state, such Wisconsin where my vehicle registration is roughly the same as it currently is in Michigan, and where my car insurance was only $350 a few years ago when I was a Wisconsin citizen, is not in the best interest of the State of Michigan.

Raising vehicle registration fees and forcing tax-paying citizens like me out of the state would, in effect, lose revenue. Increasing the cost of living in a state where so many residents are struggling to provide basic needs for themselves is not the answer to Michigan’s economic problems. One hundred dollars is a lot of money to me and many other former middle-class citizens, and I struggle to find the money to pay for my vehicle registration every year.

Please oppose Representative Dillon’s proposal to increase vehicle registration fees.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

The Michigan House and Senate are set to vote on the State Park, Boating Access Site and Forest Recreation Passport Fee on Thursday, November 12, 2010. That is THIS Thursday.

Many of you have already contacted your Senators and Representatives. I am asking you to contact them one last time. This time, the number of emails in support of these bills is more important than the plethora of reasons why these bills should pass. We have already told them why. Now we need to tell them YES!

You can view the bills and related information at the following pages:
• Senate Bills 388 & 389 (2009)
• House Bills 4677 & 4678 (2009)

I have provided detailed information regarding these bills in prior posts:
• State Park, Boating Access Site and Forest Recreation Passport Fee
• Michigan State Recreation Funding Update

If you support this bill, contact your Senator letting him/her know that this is the right choice for funding Michigan’s natural resources. Find your senator or representative by clicking on the following links:

• Michigan State Representatives
• Michigan State Senators

The following is a brief email I composed. Feel free to use this as a template, but it is probably best to make some changes – make it your own. I’ve been told that form letters are often cast aside.

Senator Mike Prusi:

I am writing to you in support of SB 388 and 389 regarding the State Park, Boating Access Site and Forest Recreation Passport Fee.

Michigan is currently considering the option of selling state land because the DNR can no longer financially support these lands and our parks. As a Michigan citizen and voter, I consider this an unacceptable action.

Only one financial solution has been proposed to the Michigan legislature. SB 388 and 389 are based on a system that has been successfully implemented in Montana. Implementing this system in Michigan would cost the State of Michigan no additional funding, but would allow the citizens to pay an optional fee in support of our parks.

Please vote YES for SB 388 and 389.

Sincerely,
Diane Ursu

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Senate and House votes expected on Thursday