It was the cost of a lunch out.

Now it’s the price of lunch – and that proverbial cup of java.

Under Senate Bill 5622, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-San Juan Island, visitors to Washington state parks must buy a $30 annual Discover pass or a $10 day-use permit, starting July 1. The pass would also apply to accessing state lands owned or managed by the Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Residents who volunteer 24 hours of service per year will receive a complimentary pass and hunters and fishermen will be issued a vehicle access pass for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife lands when they purchase their game license. Anyone driving through is allowed a 15-minute stopping period; those walking into a state park or paying to camp will not be charged.

Ranker said the bill was necessary to keep state parks open. At the time, he told the Sounder, “The alternative is that we will close parks and recreation areas. Hunting and fishing alone provides 1.4 billion in revenue and supports 14,700 jobs.”

The bill is expected to raise $69 million for state parks, and it includes a provision that no recreation areas or state parks will be closed.

It all sounded fine and dandy, but now there seem to be extra charges tacked on to the initial fees. The pass actually costs $35, if you buy it through the state’s website or phone or a licensed dealer, of which there are five in San Juan County (see the story on page 3). The markup comes from a 10 percent transaction fee and $2 dealer fee. A one-day Discover Pass costs a total of $11.50, which includes the $10 base price, the 10 percent transaction fee, and a 50-cent dealer fee.

The only way to avoid paying the extra cost is to buy the pass directly from state park staff – when they are available. If a park ranger is fending off an army of hungry raccoons in a far away campsite, you’re out of luck.

On Orcas, the passes can be purchased for the advertised $30 and $10 prices at Moran State Park, where representatives say passes can be bought every day between 10:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. The passes are sold at the park’s registration booth, located just inside the park’s north entrance beyond the white arch.

Various news outlets have reported Ranker and other senators as saying the price increase is unexpected and unfortunate. We agree and would like to see the situation rectified. We’d rather keep the surcharge and buy the latte.