Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

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    State Parks
June 17, 2009

Changes to state park fee system stalled

Bills in Legislature feature optional vehicle registration fee

By Sheri McWhirter

TRAVERSE CITY -- Rob and Danetta Johnson drove to the area from their Flint home to rest and relax at Forks State Forest Campground along the Boardman River.

They found the gate locked, and a notice said the state couldn't afford to fund the eight-site campground this year. Disappointed, the Johnsons instead drove to town and set up camp at Traverse City State Park.

They're among camping enthusiasts who want the state Department of Natural Resources to be flush enough to operate all state parks and state forest campgrounds, and have adequate money to complete infrastructure repairs.

"The parks are here for everyone, so long as they're not closing them," Rob Johnson said.

Campers like the Johnsons are willing to pay the tab to access state recreational facilities threatened by Michigan's dismal financial outlook. They support a proposal to drop park entrance fees and instead ask drivers to pay higher vehicle registration costs to fund the park system.

Park visitors no longer would pay $6 for a daily sticker or $24 for an annual pass under the proposed legislation. Instead, state motorists could pay an additional $10 each year when applying for or renewing license plates. The extra $10 would offer unlimited access to state parks, forests, recreation areas and boating sites.

Vehicle owners could choose to opt out of the fee. Out-of-state visitors would have to buy daily or annual passes to use parks and boat sites, and camping fees would remain the same for all visitors.

"It works well for us because we like to camp. I'm all for it because we use state parks all the time," Johnson said.

The idea is stalled in the state Legislature because some Lansing interests want motorists' fees to be used exclusively for roads, and not parks.

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce and the County Road Association of Michigan argue the proposed $10 fee is a tax, and the state constitution requires that vehicle fees go to transportation. Park advocates counter it's a voluntary fee deemed legal by legislative lawyers. The state attorney general has been asked to weigh in.

Park supporters say legal objections are a smoke screen by opponents who worry the plan will hamper their own efforts to double vehicle registration fees and raise the state gas tax as ways to generate more money to fix Michigan's crumbling roads and bridges.

Monica Ware, spokeswoman for the county road group, acknowledged "it would be nearly impossible to persuade legislators to vote to increase these fees twice in the next year." But she insists the proposal is bad public policy and said entrance user fees can be raised to help parks -- something Gov. Jennifer Granholm requested in her budget proposal.

A sponsor of the funding alternative for parks said she realizes roads need more money, too.

"But I don't think our voluntary $10 fee is going to cause them any problems with their efforts," said Sen. Patricia Birkholz, R-Saugatuck. "I think their efforts are going to have to stand on their own."

Ashlee Siedlecki and Dennis Kilmartin, of Grand Rapids, recently camped at Traverse City State Park. They think the $10 fee is a good idea, especially if it results in more money for parks.

"If they'll have us pay less to stay here and they get more money out of it, why not?" Kilmartin said.

Siedlecki said the fee increase should be for parks and the state chamber and road association shouldn't interfere.

"I think they get enough money for roads. And anything to help the parks would make them better," she said.

Park funding was cut from the state's general fund several years ago. The park system -- among the country's oldest and largest -- relies primarily on entrance and camping fees.

The DNR said it needs $38 million a year for repairs, but currently can annually draw on $2 million. The agency also has had to cover operational expenses with money designated for infrastructure investment. Sewage and water systems are old and deteriorating.

Advocates contend enough vehicle owners would see a good bargain in the "recreation passport fee." If two-thirds of motorists paid, the parks' annual funding would triple.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

More information

Bills pending in the Michigan Legislature would change how the state funds 98 state parks, as well as boating access sites, forests, campsites and trails:

-- In-state residents no longer would pay $6 for a daily entrance sticker or $24 for an annual pass.

-- Instead, for an extra $10 in license plate fees per year, they would get unlimited access to state parks, forests, recreation areas and boating sites.

-- Or they could choose not to pay the fee and not use the parks.

-- If someone paid the $10, their license plate tab would be marked with a "P" under revised versions of the legislation.

-- If someone visited a park and hadn't paid the $10, they could be hit with a civil infraction and $100 in fines.

-- Park employees could conduct random checks of parking lots to flag violators.

-- Out-of-state residents still would have to buy the daily and annual stickers to use parks and boat sites.

-- All camping fees would stay the same for in-state and out-of-state campers.

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