LMNRA (Lake Mead, Lake Mohave) is going to increase their fees in the near future. I don't know about the rest of you , but I wasn't happy when they started the fees back in 2000 and now that they are being increased...
(I hope this is not crossing the boundary of being political, I didn't think so.)
They have a section in their website for comments and here is what I posted.
This is just another TAX, as was the original fee structure put in place back in 2000. I oppose any fees to use our parks and lakes.
LMNRA was able to function, build facilities and hire employees before the year 2000, without fees accessed for entrance to the park, and the park should be able to do so in the future without fees. The parks main infrastructure was built well before the fees (TAXES) were put in effect, and to be perfectly honest, I haven't seen a huge improvement within the park the last 10 years.
I often wonder where the fees I pay for my boats and vehicles are going. I'm not seeing major improvements in the park, just a lot of maintenance work. Maintenance work, that for some strange reason, was able to be completed in years past without taxing each visitor. The only real improvements I've seen are the fishing docks and launch ramp extensions, small improvement. Willow Beach has a nice improvement in progress, but in this economy, was it really prudent to spend $20,000,000 ($20 million) dollars on a facility that was still functional? While at the same time, the road to Willow Beach is ridden with pot holes and the launch ramps lower end is still buried with sediment from a flood that happened years ago. The Lake Mead entrance stations and employees to staff them are a complete waste of money, useless and unnecessary. If LMNRA insists on fees (TAXES) then have the tags available at the marina stores, vending machine or pay envelopes at every launch ramp or entrance. Do away with the employees at the entrance stations and put this money into enforcement in the parking lots.
It seems like a futile attempt to collect fees when only 1/2 of the entrances to LMNRA are open 1/3 of the day. I would venture to say that there is a lot of traffic into the park that does not pay a fee, and LMNRA should look into capturing this revenue, opposed to raising the fees on the people who are currently paying. I eventually purchase tags each year when I run through an "open" entrance station, but this is normally around the middle of the year. I enter the park many times through out the year without having current tags and I'm sure there are a lot of other people who do the same. I visit the park at least 30 times a year and have yet to see anyone enforcing the tags, except for the entrance stations... I would suggest ticketing people who do not have current tags, for the amount of the tag and then send them the tag. $20 for vehicle, $40 for vehicle and trailer, and with the paid ticket the person would receive their tags. Or if the person buys current tags, the ticket would be waived. People who are only in the park for a day and get ticketed would have to pay for a year pass, too bad, so sad, LMNRA just generated more revenue.
There has to be a better way for LMNRA to generate revenue, besides raising the fees all ready imposed on it's "PAYING" visitors.
As I stated before, I'm opposed to any fees at all, but if fees are to be collected at all, they should be collected on 100% of the people entering the park. What would LMNRA rather have, 50% or a $30 fee or 100% of a $20 fee, fees on 1/2 of people entering the park, or fees on 100% of the people entering the park? I do not think the current fees need to be increased, but they do need to be collected on all people who enter the park.
I entered the park on business travel and was asked by the entrance attendant if I was doing business in the park. I said no and was charged to drive through the park. OK that's fine, but why not charge all vehicles that access the park? They drive on the same roads and use a portion of the facilities. If they are doing business in the park they most likely enter/exit the park more often than visitors. Marina employees, vendors, maintenance crews. They use the roads heavily and should pay for their fair share of the parks maintenance.
Regards,
(name respectfully withheld)
The comments link closes 6-30-2010 at midnight, so you have a short time to leave input.
http://www.nps.gov/lake/parknews/public-comment-sought-on-proposed-recreation-fee-increases-for-lake-mead-national-recreation-area.htm
(I hope this is not crossing the boundary of being political, I didn't think so.)
They have a section in their website for comments and here is what I posted.
This is just another TAX, as was the original fee structure put in place back in 2000. I oppose any fees to use our parks and lakes.
LMNRA was able to function, build facilities and hire employees before the year 2000, without fees accessed for entrance to the park, and the park should be able to do so in the future without fees. The parks main infrastructure was built well before the fees (TAXES) were put in effect, and to be perfectly honest, I haven't seen a huge improvement within the park the last 10 years.
I often wonder where the fees I pay for my boats and vehicles are going. I'm not seeing major improvements in the park, just a lot of maintenance work. Maintenance work, that for some strange reason, was able to be completed in years past without taxing each visitor. The only real improvements I've seen are the fishing docks and launch ramp extensions, small improvement. Willow Beach has a nice improvement in progress, but in this economy, was it really prudent to spend $20,000,000 ($20 million) dollars on a facility that was still functional? While at the same time, the road to Willow Beach is ridden with pot holes and the launch ramps lower end is still buried with sediment from a flood that happened years ago. The Lake Mead entrance stations and employees to staff them are a complete waste of money, useless and unnecessary. If LMNRA insists on fees (TAXES) then have the tags available at the marina stores, vending machine or pay envelopes at every launch ramp or entrance. Do away with the employees at the entrance stations and put this money into enforcement in the parking lots.
It seems like a futile attempt to collect fees when only 1/2 of the entrances to LMNRA are open 1/3 of the day. I would venture to say that there is a lot of traffic into the park that does not pay a fee, and LMNRA should look into capturing this revenue, opposed to raising the fees on the people who are currently paying. I eventually purchase tags each year when I run through an "open" entrance station, but this is normally around the middle of the year. I enter the park many times through out the year without having current tags and I'm sure there are a lot of other people who do the same. I visit the park at least 30 times a year and have yet to see anyone enforcing the tags, except for the entrance stations... I would suggest ticketing people who do not have current tags, for the amount of the tag and then send them the tag. $20 for vehicle, $40 for vehicle and trailer, and with the paid ticket the person would receive their tags. Or if the person buys current tags, the ticket would be waived. People who are only in the park for a day and get ticketed would have to pay for a year pass, too bad, so sad, LMNRA just generated more revenue.
There has to be a better way for LMNRA to generate revenue, besides raising the fees all ready imposed on it's "PAYING" visitors.
As I stated before, I'm opposed to any fees at all, but if fees are to be collected at all, they should be collected on 100% of the people entering the park. What would LMNRA rather have, 50% or a $30 fee or 100% of a $20 fee, fees on 1/2 of people entering the park, or fees on 100% of the people entering the park? I do not think the current fees need to be increased, but they do need to be collected on all people who enter the park.
I entered the park on business travel and was asked by the entrance attendant if I was doing business in the park. I said no and was charged to drive through the park. OK that's fine, but why not charge all vehicles that access the park? They drive on the same roads and use a portion of the facilities. If they are doing business in the park they most likely enter/exit the park more often than visitors. Marina employees, vendors, maintenance crews. They use the roads heavily and should pay for their fair share of the parks maintenance.
Regards,
(name respectfully withheld)
The comments link closes 6-30-2010 at midnight, so you have a short time to leave input.
http://www.nps.gov/lake/parknews/public-comment-sought-on-proposed-recreation-fee-increases-for-lake-mead-national-recreation-area.htm
