Senior pass increase

And it will still be good deal even at the higher rate.

Isn't it great that we are charged to go see public land.

My wife will turn 62 this year and I guarantee it will increase the day before her birthday. As Dutch points out, though, it is still a bargain.

NMDriver wrote:
Isn't it great that we are charged to go see public land.

Well, if you buy the pass you won't be charged as much. And it's not public land, it's government owned land. Big difference.

NMDriver wrote:
Isn't it great that we are charged to go see public land.

You don't think that those of us that use the land should pay more to maintain it than those folks that don't use it?

I got mine in May, birthday was May 27th. Yay, for getting older! The girl told me that the price increase will be in January. She also told me if you lose the pass then you will have to pay the going price. She also said that you could pay $20 a year for 4 consecutive years and then You would have your senior pass paid in full. So now DH and I both have them.

Ironic, I just came form the NPS park here in town. I have less than a year to go and I wanted to go ahead and get the pass even tho I would not be using it until I turned 62. We stay in Corp parks which honor the pass with 50 percent off. When we make our reservations online we have to pay the entire fee up front. I thought I would be able to use the pass to make the reservations and when I showed up to camp I would be 62 and all would be well. I was told you have to be 62 at the time of purchase so it's a no go for me. I was also told the price increase would take effect October 1st, 2017. I will miss it by a few months.

Like others have said, still a good deal at $80.

Those federal folks need to get their story straight on the dates for the increase.

Hit 62 in March and got mine. I beat the price increase.

lap527 wrote:
Those federal folks need to get their story straight on the dates for the increase.

1. The increase was proposed in the FY2017 supplemental budget request in Feb.

2. It was not approved by Congress, so it ain't gonna happen in FY 2017.

3. The increase is part of the broad reform of the federal government spending in the FY 2018 federal budget submitted in March and April. Congress has yet to take action on any of the FY2018 budgets for the various departments.

4. For those who haven't worked in/ with the federal government, Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 starts Oct 1, 2017.

5. To implement the pass prices increase requires passage of a modification of the law creating the pass and passage of implementation authority in the Dept of Interior budget, the Department of Agriculture budget and the Department of Defense budget.

6. The senior pass increase is part of a broader restructuring of federal land usage and reduced funding for recreational activities such as camping. The price increase of the Senior Pass may well be the smallest price increase you see. New folks might actually see higher total camping costs after the implementation, if it does happen.

My personal opinion, which is worth exactly nothing, is that if the pass increase price goes into effect, we will be hit with a 50% or more in camping nightly fees, and many small campgrounds will be closed because they don't take in enough money to pay the FULL cost of maintenance and repair.

Events like the flooding in Texas in 2015-2016 and Missouri this year will mean that those campgrounds damaged by the flooding will likely be closed permanently rather than repaired.