The Legislature’s budget-writing Joint Finance Committee has approved increases in camping fees and state park vehicle emissions for nonresidents.
Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, co-chairman of the committee, said that raising the rates for entry and camping wouldn’t impact the number of out-of-state visitors, who will benefit from the improvements made with the increased revenue to the parks.
“We’ve got a gem here in Wisconsin with our parks,” he said. “I’m happy to keep going with the additional revenue that we’re raising here, we’re plowing that back into keeping our parks beautiful and reinvesting in them.”
Campsite fees for nonresidents will increase from $45 to $50, which is estimated to generate several million dollars over the two years the budget covers.
For nonresident vehicle admission, price ranges were suggested. For a daily pass, parks can charge up to $24.85, up from $9. For buses coming from out of state, parks can charge up to $29.85, up from $10.
For nonresident nursing home buses, parks can charge up to $14.85, up from $4. And for an annual sticker, the price will increase to $49.50. For second vehicle stickers for out-of-state residents, the fee will increase to $32.
In addition to the admission for out-of-state visitors, the fees for campsite electricity will be increased for all users.
At Devil’s Lake, High Cliff, Kohler-Andrae, Peninsula and Willow River state parks, the fee will go from $15 to $25. For all other parks, electricity will increase from $10 to $15.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here are fees that are rising for camping and visiting in Wisconsin’s state parks
Reporting by Laura Schulte, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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