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10% commission on the sale, even while the UsFs resists the salesman terminology, arguing it allows vendors “to purchase the passes at a discount.”
But the mathematics is clear: 10% is still more than five! A 2003 Government Accountabil- ity Office report (GAO-03-470) said that “Although the Forest service tracks its fee revenues and expenditures separately from other appropriated funds, it does not accurately account for some fee collection costs. specifically, the Forest service does not report total revenues and fee collection costs related to discounts that vendors receive for selling recreation passes directly to the public.” This report defined the vendor discounts as “incentives or commissions to vendors for handling and selling the passes.” It states the “excluding vendor discounts from the cost of collection is also inconsistent with federal financial accounting standards and the Us Department of Agriculture financial manual.”
And independent analyses by the wsnFC have shown that when a visitor uses a commercial- ly-operated fee machine to purchase a recreation pass, the forest loses as much as much as 55% of the money paid. A 2006 GAO report (GAO-06-1016) also noted that fee machine collection methods were ripe for abuse. “Fs staff members have verified the amount of the contractor’s remittance against the reported total collected fees to ensure the contractor submitted the correct percentage of the fees under their contract,” the report says. “Unfortunately, by simply relying on this approach, Fs officials have no way of independently verifying actual receipts because they have no access to raw data from the automated machines.”
To clarify how the Red Rock Ranger District is determining how the $600,000 to $700,000 per year it reports is brought in by the Red Rock Pass fees is being spent, this writer asked, “when was the last time the program was audited?”
After a moment of pause, Ms. Burns replied she did not think it had ever been, and deferred to another UsFs employee for input who stated the district has “no control over that,” further maintaining a request for an audit must be made by administrators in washington, DC. Ms. Benzar countered the response was inaccurate and that, in fact, the district could seek audits, independently, at any time. “Regular audits would be in accordance with federal accounting procedures,” she said.
The GAO has issued several reports critical of the UsFs’ ability to follow sound accounting procedures and provide details on where and how money was being spent across the board. The Red Rock Pass system has been in place for 15 years. The fact there has never been an audit of the financials of the program is certainly cause for concern for many, including Ms. Benzar.
“we’re kind of like a national Park,” said Ms. Burns. “we have a variety of visitors that appreci- ate the amenities we provide. There are a variety of reasons that people visit these sites. we are attempting to accommodate those uses.”
“Yes,” responded Ms. Benzar, “but the only visitors you are not trying to accommodate are those who just want to park and go for a hike. You should not be restricting access and giving it only to those who can and are willing to pay a fee. There are lots of forests that operate with- out fees. Just because you have a management problem, it does not give you carte blanche to violate fee laws.”
“well, you can certainly comment and take those concerns beyond me,” replied Ms. Burns.
The comment period for the proposed changes to the Red Rock Pass fee system has been extended until January 1, 2016. One can voice concerns by emailing jmburns@ fs.fed.us or by postal mail to Red Rock District, POB 20429, Sedona, AZ 86341.
| Cindy Cole thumbs her knows to hiking a forest with fees.
cindycole@live.com
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