The following editorial appeared in the Red Rock News on November 10, 1999.
The Reader's Poll was a slam dunk against allowing the Sedona Forest Service ranger district to charge additional user fees.
By more that a 6-1 margin, Sedona Red Rock News Reader's Poll residents voted against any additional forest land-user fees. While the poll is not scientifically representative of the entire population, the vote was overwhelming with numerous voters adding comments.
The overwhelming 6-1 margin ranks in the top five of responses in defeating a question.
Readers said many times that they support the upkeep of national forests through the income taxes they pay. Readers wondered why they should pay twice to hike in a national forest.
Another said the increase in taxes and user fees will drive visitors away to other locations. That is turn would hurt local businesses and the ability of the city government to collect sales tax and pay for the sewer system and the general operating expenses of community government.
Others said that current forest service management is wasting money and needs to change their spending priorities. A few suggested that allowing user fees to be charged on the forest would lead to even more fees. It would just be the beginning, one reader wrote.
The trails are not in good shape, according to a reader. The Forest Service is not doing a good job of taking care of trails. If it was not for the volunteers, the trails would be in worse shape, a reader said.
There are a few readers who favored charging user fees. One said that since the volunteers are not taking care of the trails, the Forest Service needs to charge users to make the trails better and have the trash picked up. Another wants the user fee "the higher the better."
Considering the response we have received for our Reader's Poll, we must ask the Forest Service where the grassroots support for these additional charges are.
Also, if the Forest Service has petitions from 5,000 residents in support of this proposal, why have not these supporters responded to the Reader's Poll?
This paper reaches nearly 90 percent of residents every week. We expected more support for the Forest Service proposal based on the grassroots support they want for this project.
Our reader's vote suggests that Forest Service needs to re-think any idea of charging fees for use of the national forest in the greater Sedona area. Residents who responded to our poll are, by large majority, totally opposed to any such fees.
- Thomas L. Brossart
Managing Editor