Fewer than half of Clallam County residents who renewed their auto license tab fees in September allowed an automatic donation of $5 toward the operation of state parks, including three on the North Olympic Peninsula.

In Jefferson County, 61 percent opted to allow the donation during September — the first month the program was in place — a State Parks spokeswoman said.

Of the $1.4 million donated through license tab fees statewide in September, about $2,419 was donated by Clallam County motorists from 5,204 eligible license tabs, or 46.2 percent, and $1,579 was donated from 2,588 eligible vehicle owners in Jefferson County.

“That is just the money that came in during the month of September,” said state parks spokeswoman Virginia Painter, adding it could be slightly more.

“It’s promising,” Painter said, saying that the state figures about $1.25 million must be brought in each month during the next two years to meet the maintenance and operations needs of the state’s parks.

Bogachiel State Park southwest of Forks, Flagler State Park on Marrowstone Island and Fort Townsend, south of Port Townsend were among the parks placed on a list for closure before the state Legislature this year passed House Bill 2339, introduced by House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, who represents Clallam, Jefferson and part of Grays Harbor counties in District 24.

The bill established a new donation program to keep state parks open in the face of budget reductions that might have resulted in the closure of about 40 state parks.

How it works

In the new program, vehicle owners’ license tab renewal notices have an automatic $5 donation added to the total due, instead of providing the opportunity to choose to add it.

Those who do not wish to make the donation subtract it from the total due, as outlined on state Department of Licensing renewal notices and payment coupons. They must “opt out” rather than choosing to “opt in.”

The September total includes donations that were made in July and August — from people who paid their September renewals early and from some who made donations under the preceding donation program.

An early report of donations to State Parks shows $1.4 million in the agency’s donation account on Sept. 30, a number that is considered on track with the Legislature’s budget goal for the agency to be able to keep state parks open.

The goal was for donations to replace $28 million of the $52 million in general fund tax operating dollars cut from the State Parks budget.

When the budget was finalized and signed in early May, the Legislature created the new program and stipulated that all parks would remain open, provided sufficient revenues are collected.

State Parks will report to the Legislature in January about the status of the donation program.

Information about the program is available on the State Parks Web site, www.parks.wa.gov/donations.

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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com