$18 for Bambi: Park Groups Vote for Entrance Fee

Apparently fed up with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget-related threats to shut state parks, and facing some part-time park operation closures, three park groups are proposing a blanket entrance fee, according to the Palisadian-Post. Called the "State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010," the group is trying to get initiative on the November ballot. "The initiative calls for every Californian who operates a non-commercial vehicle to be charged an $18 annual surcharge on their vehicle license fee in exchange for a State Park Access Pass, which would give them free entry into state parks. These vehicle owners would no longer have to pay day-use fees, which parks collect. The revenue generated would be placed in a trust fund that could be spent only on state parks, wildlife, natural lands and ocean conservation programs."
· State Parks Drive Begins [PP]