BOISE -- The Department of Parks and Recreation's effort to boost annual revenue with an affordable annual pass got off to a good start when a House committee recommended it be quickly approved by the full chamber.
The House Resources Committee on Tuesday unanimously backed the new Idaho State Parks Passport, which would allow people registering their vehicles to voluntarily add a $10 sticker to their car entitling them to entry into Idaho's 30 state parks.
Director Nancy Merrill hopes the idea, borrowed from Michigan, will boost her agency's finances at a time when Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter wants parks to support themselves.
There's now a similar annual Idaho parks pass, but it now costs $40 and raises only $800,000.
Merrill forecasts these new stickers could help raise more than twice that.
