Colorado Ski Areas Pay Record $23 Million In Federal Rent
DENVER (AP) — The money Colorado ski areas pay the federal government to operate on U.S. Forest Service land is drawing attention at the local level.
The Denver Post reported Wednesday that 22 resorts paid a total of $23 million in revenue-based permit fees for the 2014-15 season, up 11 percent from the previous season. It was the third record-setting season in a row.
Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden has led efforts in Washington D.C. to help individual forests retain fees collected, rather than having them go to the general federal budget. Rangers could use funds to, for example, expand staffs charged with reviewing requests from resorts to make renovations or expand activity.
Colorado Ski Country trade group head Melanie Mills says the Forest Service has to do a lot on a tighter budget.
Ski Report
Check the status of trails & lifts at Colorado ski resorts in the CBSDenver.com Ski Report section.
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