http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/04/01/news/doc47f173eae5ce5220862819.txt

Campers, hunters could face higher fees in Illinois

4/1/2008

Bloomington Pantagraph

Kurt Erickson

SPRINGFIELD -- Campers and hunters could be shelling out more green to enjoy the outdoors this summer under Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s latest budget proposal.

Six weeks after first hinting that some park fees could rise to fill a growing budget hole, the administration Monday released a tentative list of the fees they want to see go up.

Among them:

- Campers would pay $5 more per day for electric hook-ups;

- Campers would pay $10 more per day for sites on holiday weekends;

- Out-of-state hunters would pay more for archery and firearm licenses.

In all, the proposed series of fee hikes could help generate millions of dollars to help close a budget gap that is over $750 million.

It’s not the first time Blagojevich has turned to campers to help pay for state services. In 2004, he backed a plan to increase campsite fees by $4 to $5 per day at most state campgrounds.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which operates state parks, said current fees aren’t keeping pace with actual utility costs. Budget documents show the cost of providing electric service to campers was $2.1 million, while just $1.2 million was actually collected.

If approved, the additional cost for an electric hook-up would bring the per-day fee for a premium campsite to $25. The documents don’t note whether discounts for senior citizens and certain military veterans would be affected by the change.

The administration also wants to raise the cost of camping on holiday weekends, such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. With the electric rate hike, the cost to camp in a premium site on July 4 would be $35 per day.

Documents note that Illinois would remain a good deal for campers if the fees are approved.

“Our camping rate for premium holidays is still below what neighboring states charge,” the document notes.

Along with higher fees for out-of-state hunters, the administration wants to boost the cost of a number of business-related permits, such as oil drilling permits and consulting fees for local governments.

Jonathan Goldman, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, said it is not clear why the governor waited so long to reveal the proposed fee increases. He cast doubt on whether any could be enacted at this stage of the spring legislative session.

Lawmakers are scheduled to meet through the end of May. The proposed fees would go into effect July 1.

Goldman said if the fees are approved, all proceeds should be funneled back to the state parks, which have weathered tough budget times since Blagojevich took office.

State Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, agreed, saying campers and hunters shouldn’t be asked to bail out the state’s budget woes.

“My main concern is where is this money going,” Rose said.