ASPEN, Colo. (AP) - Ski-area operators in the White River National Forest are paying more to use public lands.
The Aspen Times reports (https://bit.ly/2hsTTnW ) that according to the U.S. Forest Service, the 11 resorts in the national forest paid $19.94 million in fees in fiscal 2016 compared with $17.92 million in 2015, an increase of 11 percent.
The large increase in fees reflects a strong year for Colorado’s ski industry, which saw 13 million visiting skiers for the first time.
The U.S. Forest Service use a formula to determine the fees a ski area must pay for revenue generated on national forest land that takes into account skier visits and related business, such as lessons.
Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams says the ski-area fees helped the White River National Forest generate about $10 million more in revenue than it spent in fiscal year 2016.
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Information from: The Aspen Times, https://www.aspentimes.com/
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