Fund state parks with $10 surcharge

The Detroit News is highlighting ideas from various groups to promote discussion on reform, restructuring government and the economy.

Fund state parks with $10 surcharge

Idea 46: Shift financing of state parks to an optional $10 surcharge or "park passport" for vehicle registration.

Why: State parks attract 22 million visitors a year and generate $600 million in economic activity, but receive no state funding this year. The $6 daily permits and $24 annual window stickers are not generating enough money -- $11.7 million this year -- to deal with a park system that has a $341 million backlog of repairs for buildings, roads, water and sewer lines. Without action, the director of the state Department of Natural Resources expects to close some parks next year.

Benefits: Since the surcharge would be $14 less than an annual sticker, more residents would buy it. If a quarter of Michigan's car owners pay the surcharge, it would net the parks an additional $6 million a year, estimates the Senate Fiscal Agency. If half opt in, $26 million more would be raised. Residents could more easily enter 98 state parks and recreation areas for a cheaper price.

How: Pass legislation eliminating the daily entry fee and annual pass and creating the optional surcharge. Out-of-state visitors would still pay an $8 daily entry fee or $29 for an annual pass. The state Senate has already done this.

Obstacles: Transportation funding advocates see this as encroaching on the use of vehicle registration to fund road and highway improvements. The Democratic-controlled state House and Lt. Gov. John Cherry want to automatically charge car owners $10 for parks -- putting the burden on unwilling vehicle owners to opt out on their registration paperwork.

Source: State Sen. Patricia Birkholz,

R-Saugatuck