“A View Against Sticker Program” from the July 28, 1960 Resorter Reporter
A View Against Sticker Program
The following letter was received by the Resorter Reporter from Mr. Frank N. Graass correcting a statement recently published in an article on our state parks. Because the letter is of interest and carries valuable Information regarding park conservation revenues we here publish it.
I have read with considerable interest your last two articles in the Resorter Reporter commenting on our State Parks, the financing thereof and favoring a park sticker stamp. One of your reasons or statements being that “Hunting and Fishing license fees are now providing the sole income of our State Parks.” This is incorrect and should be corrected.
I believe that I have in the past years taken a greater interest and accomplished more for our State Parks, including our own two, than any other member of the Legislature and wish to correct the impression that you have given relative to State Park finances.
Several years ago as a member of the Wisconsin Legislative Council I was instrumental in proposing and passing through both houses of the Legislature, signed by the Governor, a bill appropriating $500,000.00 from the General Fund, non-lapseable, to be used only for sanitary purposes, clean toilets, good water and shelters. In 1957-58 the Peninsula State Park spent $106,969.55 for these purposes and Potawatomi spent $24,608.84. In 1956-58 the income from all parks amounted to $244,111.48. In Peninsula Park $28,426.65 from campers, $2,094.00 from rentals and land use and $42,720.75 from golfing, $2,321.50 from concessions and $3,221.21 from miscellaneous. Potawatomi, $4,593.82.
The State Conservation Fund is comprised of various incomes, all segregated.
Mill Tax for forestry.
Fish and game licenses.
Federal Pittman-Robinson Aid
Federal Dingell-Johnson Aid.
Highway Aid.
Advertising Aid.
Christmas Tree Dealers.
Guide Licenses.
Taxidermist Licenses.
Investment Income.
Sales.
Park Income.
General Fund Appropriations.
Confiscations and many others too numerous to mention.
My records disclose that out of all these funds there can be available for park purposes approximately $500,000.00 other than fishing and hunting licenses.
The past two years there was available $150,000.00 for park sanitation and expansion. The Conservation Budget bill the Legislature just passed, appropriated $200,000.00 per year from the General Fund.
Now as to fees and sticker stamp: For years a camping group, regardless of number, could camp for 75¢ per day. What did they get for 75¢ per day? Camp site, wood to burn, garbage disposal, good clean water, police protection, fine swimming beach, bath house, large shelters for inclement weather, boat ramp, play grounds, fishing, and beautiful wooded trails.
I cannot park my car in a Madison County-City ramp overnight or any other parking space for less than $1.00.
Now the Commission has raised the rates to $1.00 per day and estimate that that will meet the cost of administration. The General Fund appropriation of $200,000.00 per year can take care of sanitation as it has done with my $500,000.00 appropriation of several years ago. If there is a crisis there is always the Emergency Board to appeal to for more funds.
Now as to a sticker stamp, 50¢ to $2.00 permit, and use of fishing and hunting license money to operate our State Parks. Under the U. S. Pittman-Robinson Act and the U. S. Dingell-Johnson Bill, the State receives or will receive per year in Federal Aid, approximately $500,000.00 for conservation purposes, but not if they use fishing and hunting license fees for other purpose than conservation.
Only recently the federal auditor checked the conservation funds and reported that there had been “no diversion of funds within the meaning of the Pittman-Robinson Act.”
The Pittman-Robinson Act prohibits the diversion of revenues derived from the sale of fishing and hunting licenses. It does not prohibit the use of non-fish and game activities of revenue derived from other sources.
In closing, may I suggest, let’s raise the camping fees or other services that are equitable to the services that are given or offered, but let’s not charge a 50¢ or $2.00 fee to drive in or through our parks, whose roads are paid for out of the gasoline fund that the cars are now paying.
Sincerely,
FRANK N. GRAASS
Assemblyman
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
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