Seniors may lose 1/2 price camping in national forests

The USDA Forest Service has proposed a reduction in the discounts seniors and disabled visitors with Golden Age or Golden Access Passports receive at Forest Service campgrounds run by concessionaires. The discount is currently 50 percent. Concessionaires could lower it to as little as 10 percent, though they could give a higher discount if they choose to.

You can read more details here. This document gives instructions on commenting, which are as follows:

Send comments electronically by following the instructions at the Federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Comments also may be submitted by mail to U.S. Forest Service, Attn: Carolyn Holbrook, Recreation and Heritage Resources Staff, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1125, Washington, DC 20250-1125. If comments are sent electronically, please do not send duplicate comments by mail. Please confine comments to issues pertinent to the proposed directives, explain the reasons for any recommended changes, and, where possible, reference the specific section and wording being addressed.

It sounds to me like concessionaires aren't making enough money because most of their campers are seniors, seniors who have paid taxes all their lives to support our forests, many of whom live on a fixed income. If the Forest Service went back to running their own campgrounds, this probably wouldn't be necessary (and they got to keep the funds they collected instead of having them go into the General Fund.) The government doesn't need to make a profit. Private business does.

Most of these campgrounds have no amenities, or are rather primitive when they do. Usually the camper doesn't get much beyond a beautiful place to camp and sometimes a porta potty. There are exceptions, of course, but I haven't seen a Forest Service campground with hookups.

Take the time to submit a comment. Otherwise, one of our low-cost RV retirement camping options will no longer be as affordable. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Comments

[Mike Goad]

I'm not yet to the point where I can take advantage of the reduced fees. It's unfortunate and wrong, if it happens, but it still won't keep us from camping in the forests and national parks.

[Jaimie Hall Bruzenak]

Thanks for the comment. They wouldn't keep me away either, but for some people on fixed incomes, they could make it less affordable. Compared to other parks, most are a bargain.

Jaimie

[Loren Hollister]

Having volunteered at a Forest Service historic site for the last three years I hate to see this happening, and wonder if this may also apply at their "for fee" facilities, campgrounds or not, run by the Forest Service. Seniors account for a large portion of visitors at the non campground sites, with probably 30% of total visitor count being free senior pass guests.
However, there is a possible reason that most people are not aware of. The Forest Service has basically a fixed budget set by the Department of Agriculture. For several years this budget has been severly drained by an expense that the service cannot control - specifically, fighting forest fires. Because of the tremendous costs involved district budgets are running out of money before the end of their "season", or fiscal year, so necessary maintenance of public facilities has to be delayed, paid personnel reduced, etc. Even more important, major forest fires, like the Angeles Station fire this year and the vast Idaho fires last year, are being fought with far fewer fire fighters than required, prolonging the fires and endangering those fighters on the lines.
With the large budget cuts the USFS has been hit with for the last several years something has to happen. I am afraid it will be either raising fees or shutting non profitable facilities.

[Ann Pruitt]

I'm surprised you haven't seen USFS cgs with hookups, because they are out there. Off the top of my head, I can think of a great one near West Yellowstone, and some in Colorado..maybe I should keep them secret! Yes, it's bad enough that the discount could disappear, but then the $$ would go to the greedy concessionaires who are looking to make a profit off the seniors and families who flock to the forests. I'd rather see the $ go to the USDA. will our protests count?

[Jaimie Hall Bruzenak]

Loren and Ann, thanks for your comments.

I know the USFS, even more so than NPS, is strapped by budget cuts. Giving the concessionaires more, is probably not the answer. Someone in an RV group I belong to suggested raising fees for everyone a little bit, not just taking away the senior discount. If the FS got to keep the fees they collect and use them, rather them going in to the general fund or to a concessionaire, perhaps they could do more to maintain the forest and protect it. It's a dilemma.

Thanks for letting us know there are FS campgrounds with hookups. I just haven't come across them. The money will go to the concessionaires, though they don't HAVE to reduce the discount. But who wouldn't? Yes, I'd rather see the money stay with the USFS.

If enough people write and protest, it could make a difference.

Jaimie

[Paul Gesink]

Go to: http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/12/campground.shtml to read the FS press release re the "proposed" policy changes. They really put a spin on it. Read closely to notice that access to the Forests for day use, which is now free for Golden Age Passes will be changed to a 10% discount. They cite "protecting the viability of the small businesses..." (concessionaires) to justify the butchery. Aramark & Halliburton are small business? Didn't get enough swag in Iraq? The fact is that big gov't contractors have the bureaucrats under control & commenting to the FS is ping in wind. These people aren't elected. It would appear more likely that the policy change could be stopped if we protest to elected officials and get the support of AARP, AAA, etc., to publicize what the USDA/FS is planning to deprive Seniors and Disabled from access to our National Forests.

[Jaimie Hall Bruzenak]

Thanks for the comment, Paul. We do need a groundswell of protests. I agree that we should write/call elected officials as well as comment via USFS.

Some forest service concessionaires are small, but many are pretty big companies, or giant ones like Aramark.

Jaimie

[Michael Crosby]

As a senior and retired Marine, I have mixed feelings about this double edged sword. Lorean is correct, the budget cuts and the fact that government is not capable of managing anything efficiently, gives us only one choice, "greedy concessionaires".
The vast majority of the fees we pay goes to operating expenses at the sites we enjoy, including cleaning, maintenance, safety patrols, etc. A large portion also goes to the government in fees. The fees paid to the government by law, at least on US Forest Service lands, stay in the local forest and are used for improvement and new construction and not put into the general fund.
Since the companies that operate these concessions are in business to make a profit and are private operators. They are unaffected by government mandates and are able to maintain service and staffing levels at their optimum levels. By putting operation of recreation facilities in private hands, government recreation managers can help protect recreation spending and keep parks open.
I don't mind paying my fair share but raising the fees for seniors will not solve the problem.
Call / write your congressman. Let them know how you feel. Stay informed, get all the facts.

Great site Jaimie, keep up the good work.

[Jaimie Hall Bruzenak]

Thanks for your comment, Michael.

I have not worked for the USFS, but in the case of NPS, I was told by permanent employees that when the government instituted fees, NPS got to keep them as funds above and beyond their normal allotment. Then, after a year or two, their estimated fees were counted as part of their operating budget so they got less funds from the government. While the fees may have initially been for capital improvements or maintenance, after the government included those fees in their income, then the agency had to use them for the everyday operating expenses. The maintenance and improvement projects once again went by the wayside.

I agree with what you said. We need to involve our congressmen too.

Jaimie