banjonut Loc: Southern Michigan

FredB Loc: A little below the Mason-Dixon line.

That article didn't make sense. It postulated that delaying the opening for two weeks would cost the three or four "gateway" towns about $10 million dollars in business. But the budget shortfall is only for $1.75 million. Seems to me the town fathers could get together, come up with the $1.75 mill, and plow the roads themselves. Something ain't right.

I love the NPs but if they can't pay their own way, then something needs to be done. If YNP needs an another 1.75 mill to stay open normally, add 50 cents to the admission fee. Bingo. Users pay, and Granny down in Ft Lauderdale doesn't get all huffy because her tax dollars pay for hippies to watch buffalo mate...

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

Give me a break. The White House is playing games. All the agencies are crying wolf, putting the worst possible spin on this. A five percent cut. That's peanuts. Any business man in the country has faced worse.

It's simple, keep borrowing from our kids and grandkids and their future is bleak. Or.......pay as we go.

Here's some elementary math. When we were in Yellowstone last month, they told us it gets 4 million visitors a year. They need to cut their budget by 1.75 million. What a crisis........they may have to charge 44 cents more per visitor. Instead, they threaten local businessmen with worst case scenarios.

Hope this gets moved to the chit-chat section. Not really a photo topic.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

How about we transfer $1.75-million from aid earmarked for Kenya, to Yellowstone. According to the article, this will generate $10-million to the local Wyoming economy. Doesn't have to be Kenya. Can be any country that despises the USA, but spends our tax money.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

FredB, cutting budgets is not fun. Every $60k may just represent a persons job. I've had to make those cuts.
And granny's vote counts the same as everybody's. Two years ago in CA. the park service put a measure on the ballot that would have raised every car reg in the state $17. That would have funded our state park service. It failed and now about half of all of our state parks are either closing or cutting back hours. And now the federal park system is experiencing the same. Will you pay more tax to save them.
If those town businesses depend on it so much, I would think the business owners themselves would pitch in and drive those plows themselves.
For sure, armchair quarterbacking will do nothing.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

This information is false! In 2011, the Democratic Governor of California, used this sob story about having to close State Parks in order to raise state-wide sales tax. Turned out that we actually had a substantial surplus in State Park bank accounts, which came to light only after a raise in taxes was defeated by California voters, who were already paying 9.75% Sales Tax. These scare tactics make headlines, but most often do not hold-up to scrutiny. In 2012, Park executive management heads rolled in California (read article), but Governor Moonbeam played innocent. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/21/4646682/hidden-parks-funds-spark-outrage.html

FredB Loc: A little below the Mason-Dixon line.

Tell me about it. I lost three jobs in 40 months due to budget cuts, mergers, and 9/11. And we all know how great the job market is for 55+ year old white men.
No, but I'll pay a higher entrance fee if that's what it takes. There's no reason the NPS and other federal programs that take in 'users' and 'customers' can't pay for themselves. (That includes state parks as well.) Disney ain't going broke. The NFL, MLB and NBA ain't going broke. NASCAR ain't going broke. (Notwithstanding owners who get publicly funded stadiums - that's got to stop too.) Let people who USE a service pay for it. If it's a worthwhile service (as voted on by pocketbooks), it will do fine. If it's not a worthwhile service, it'll go away. We don't run the Erie Canal anymore, either.
Who's in an armchair? I'm headed for YNP right now with a snow shovel and 50 cents. Where are you?

banjonut Loc: Southern Michigan

I'm completely in favor of raising the entrance fee to the parks to keep them operational. Even doubling the fee if necessary. I have an old farts pass, so I get in for free, but I would gladly pay twice as much 😀😀😀😀😀🐺🐫🐪🐂🐃🌻

nedell Loc: Holland NY USA

We don't run the Erie Canal anymore, either.

Actually we do.
Today, it is part of the New York State Canal System. In 2000 the United States Congress designated the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor[2] to recognize the national significance of the canal system as the most successful and influential human-built waterway and one of the most important works of civil engineering and construction in North America.[2] Mainly used by recreational watercraft in the recent past, the canal saw an upsurge in commercial traffic in 2008.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal

And trust me, no govt entity in New York pays its own way.

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

[/quote]Who's in an armchair? I'm headed for YNP right now with a snow shovel and 50 cents. Where are you?[/quote]

I see a poster: "Uncle Sam wants YOU" --and he's holding a snow shovel.)

Seriously, fees to the National parks are extremely modest by any measure. We got a week's pass for a car load for $25. An annual pass (I think they call it the America the Beautiful Pass) is only $80 -- that's a pass good for ALL the national parks for a whole year.

If they would have doubled the charge for us, it wouldn't have made a bit of difference in our planned visit.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

The BIG problem with National Park admission fees is that NONE of those gate fees goes towards maintaining or operating the parks. All gate fees go into that huge black hole that is the Federal General Fund. Only two of our National Parks actually generate enough gate fee revenue to operate themselves, Yellowstone and Yosemite. Many others probably would be able to if they were run properly as MANY of them are on the plus side on a "good" year, but generally fall just a little short.
Yellowstone costs $25 a carload, or $15 per pedestrian/bicyclist, so its not exactly a cheap place to visit, but its well worth it!
Right now the Cody (East entrance), and Cooke City (Northeast entrance) are looking at having very late openings due to snow on the entrance mountain passes. Jackson (South entrance) is said to be opening late due to lack of funding to open the gatehouse, but that gatehouse is already open all winter for snowcoach access, so that one is non-sensical. Its all political BS that stems from the massive failure that is Washington, D.C.
But remember folks, you re-elected all those clowns and thieves!

jeanbug35 Loc: Jonesboro AR

This is so sad. We need new leaders that know how to work together, not against each other.

FredB Loc: A little below the Mason-Dixon line.

I stand corrected. Does it get a lot of commercial flatboat traffic? Do recreational boaters pay the appropriate fees? If some schmuck with a 50' Chris-Craft only pays $20 to float from Albany to Buffalo, and I was a NY taxpayer I'd scream bloody murder... :)

Meives Loc: FORT LAUDERDALE

I have an idea. Lets borrow the money from China and let our children and grandchildren worry about paying for it. Or even better. Just print more money. Openning Yellowstone early is too important not to do. David

banjonut Loc: Southern Michigan

Don't blame me. I didn't pull that lever. But there were plenty of phantoms who did.