Have you purchased your $30 “Discover Pass” to visit state parks this year? Oops. Make that a $35 pass.

Unbeknownst to many lawmakers who approved the $30 pass this spring, the cost also includes a 17 percent markup if you buy it from a licensed dealer or from the state’s website. That extra $5 is made up of a $3 transaction fee and a $2 dealer fee.

(The pass is only $30 if you buy it at one of the state parks.)

Some lawmakers, including Sen. Kevin Ranker (D-San Juan) who sponsored the legislation, said it was his understanding that any transactions costs would be built into the $30.

“We promised $30,” Ranker said.

If $30 plus fees is too stiff for you, there is a one-day pass for $10. Oops again. With fees, that cost is actually $11.50.

Despite this irritation, the pass has a good intention: helping raise money for parks in a bad economy. When budgets get tight, parks aren’t necessarily on the top of lawmakers’ lists of things to save.

While we wish the state well with this effort, we still have a concern. The state wants the sale of park passes to raise $60 million. That would mean the state would have to sell two million passes. Good luck.

– Craig Groshart, Reporter Newspapers