|
Quoted from appended article from today's Associated Press:
[The move contrasts with a push by the Bush administration to enact permanent recreation fees for national forests and other public lands and turn some fee collection to private businesses.]
In 1998 Oregon voters passed ballot Measure 66 and in so doing authorized lottery funds to be used for State Park maintenance. Immediately thereafter the Oregon legislature cut off allocation of general funds to the State park system. Today OPRD's operating budget comes from RV Fees, Lottery Dollars, Entrance Fees, Concessionaire Revenues and from campground fees.
The good news is that Oregon Parks Recreation Department is bucking the trend toward increased user fees and has decided to, for now, limit entrance fees to those State Parks where fees are already being charged.
The bad news is that there is enormous pressure to overdevelop and overcommericalize Oregon's State park facilities because the parks receive no general fund dollars and must be financially self-sufficient.
The bad news is that as long ago as 1997, legislation was introduced in the Oregon Legislature (HB 3563) to introduce a state park privatization demonstration program. We may see similar legislation reintroduced before long.
The bad news is that corporate sponsorships, public-private-partnerships, volunteerism, contracting, franchises and service shedding are all privatization tools that have been proposed to improve the bottom line for Oregon's State Parks. We may see more application of these tools before long.
As long as Oregon's State Parks are expected to be financially self-sufficient they will have to find money wherever they can and cater to those customers most willing to pay for specific services. So while you won't see new entrance fees this year, you may well see new marinas, pull through motorhome camping sites, more yurts and commercial businesses when you visit a State Park next year. And, it goes without saying, you'll be required pay to use any of those amenities. I'll let you decide whether you that's good news or bad.
Scott
--- begin quoted ---
The Associated Press 9/19/2003
State drops plan to impose park fees
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) The state has dropped its plan to charge day-use
fees at 24 state parks following opposition from hundreds of
Oregonians. The state currently charges fees at 26 parks, many along
the Oregon coast.
Officials also backed off because higher registration fees for
recreational vehicles and an expected upsurge in lottery revenue will
bring in new, alternate revenues, said State Parks and Recreation
Department director Michael Carrier.
The proposal would have levied a $3-a-day parking charge on cars
visiting 24 sites including Tryon Creek State Natural Area in Portland,
Wallowa Lake State Recreation Area near Joseph and South Beach near
Newport.
Close to 700 people commented on the state fee proposal in writing and
at eight public meetings around the state. Most were opposed to it,
said parks spokesman Mike Beard.
"We had lots of retirees and folks on fixed incomes who argued pretty
strongly that this would impose an undue hardship on them," he said.
Parks officials will recommend that the state Parks and Recreation
Commission formally cancel the proposal at its meeting Sept. 25. There
is little doubt the panel will do so, said Commissioner Nik Blosser of
Portland.
The move contrasts with a push by the Bush administration to enact
permanent recreation fees for national forests and other public lands
and turn some fee collection to private businesses.
Legislative increases in recreational vehicle registration fees should
bring in another $2.5 million for state parks in the next two years,
Beard said. Also, new lottery games will generate extra revenue for
parks that should help offset the need for fees.
Craig Johnston, president of Friends of Tryon Creek, said the state
also did not consider the length of time people use different parks.
Many people take short walks through Tryon Creek, which does not
warrant a charge, he said.
"We would like to see more people from the rest of metropolitan
Portland use it," Johnston said of Tryon Creek. "It's underutilized,
and fees would only exacerbate that."
|
- Privatization 
