Boat would improve lake's safety net

Recently, I’ve been reading comments and some criticism of Bonner County’s Marine Patrol, for requesting Waterway Grant Funds to acquire and outfit another vessel for the south end of the lake. First, as a boater on the south end of the lake, there is sound logic in stationing an all-weather vessel in Garfield Bay, from which a shortened response time can be achieved to nearly 20 miles of open water.

Secondly, I would like to share with people the difference in funding sources managed under the umbrella of Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. IDPR has historically received a few million dollars from Idaho’s General Fund and those are the funds IDPR is relinquishing to help offset Idaho’s budget shortfalls. Most of the General Fund dollars IDPR receives were allocated to personnel expenses in operations for park and management staff. We generate about 70 percent of the cost of state parks through use fees within the parks, but the parks don’t cover all the expenses of their staffs.

Another significant funding component within IDPR’s budget is the separated and dedicated recreational funds generated through licenses, recreational fuel use, and some federal money returned nationwide to specific recreational uses.  These recreational funds are what support the grant programs, snowmobile groomers, and the county waterway and marine programs, but aren’t available for the general operation of the state park system. So, the grant funds sought by the Sheriff’s office for a patrol vessel are generated by boaters and aren’t used to operate or maintain the parks of Idaho.

The requested boat would add a better safety net on our lake.

STEVE KLATT

Board member,

Region 1

Idaho Parks and Recreation Board