Colorado’s nearly 50 volunteer search and rescue teams, which for years have seen a steady rise in calls, will get more funding from the state from an increase in fees on wildlife licenses and boat, snowmobile and off-road vehicle registrations, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said Thursday.
Starting Jan. 1, the Colorado Backcountry Search and Rescue Program fee will be $1.25, up from 25 cents, the agency said in a statement. The increased fee is a “necessary step” to reflect inflation, the boost in calls and the number of “highly challenging and risky rescues” over the past 15 years.
“We’re constantly amazed by the dedicated volunteer search-and-rescue professionals across Colorado who are ready to mobilize and help people in a time of need when they become stranded, lost or injured in the backcountry,” CPW’s BSAR Manager Perry Boydstun said in a statement announcing the change.
“These types of outdoor rescues often require a specific type of training and gear, so it’s really important that our statewide BSAR program accurately provides our local teams with funding for resources they need to complete rescues without jeopardizing their own safety.”
The last time the fee was increased was in 1987, CPW said. Since then, there has been a significant rise in calls for help and the cost for administration, training and equipment has also gone up.
Per Colorado law, CPW has one opportunity to increase the BSAR fee to a base level. Then, the fee can only be increased by the Consumer Price Index.
Last year the 25-cent backcountry search and rescue surcharge raised $77,000 from vehicle registrations, $149,000 from wildlife licenses and $100,000 from the sale of Colorado Search and Rescue cards. It’s estimated the $1 increase in the fee could deliver an additional $2 million a year to the state Backcountry Search and Rescue Fund.
“We’ve been discussing this fee bump since the ’90s. We are grateful for the collaborative support of the governor, legislators, many sheriffs, CPW, and many unpaid professional BSAR responders for getting this long standing project to an improved situation,” Jeff Sparhawk, executive director of the Colorado Search and Rescue Association, said.
The teams also still rely on direct donations from the public, he added.
Colorado’s all-volunteer search and rescue teams provide services free of charge to the person lost, injured or stranded in the backcountry. The teams are county-based and coordinated through the sheriff’s office or county government.
CPW provides support and funding on a statewide level after teams file incident reimbursement forms and through a county allocation application process. Counties can use the money to buy equipment, vehicles, computer software, train its volunteers, for mental health services, communications, maintenance and other fixed costs.
