By Jamey Dunn
Visitors to the state’s parks may soon be required to pay a fee.
The House approved a bill today that would allow the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to charge fees for entry to the parks. Under the measure, those wanting to go to parks would have the option of purchasing an annual pass or paying per day.
“The campers that go there see picnic tables broken, fire pits not maintained. There’s just certain things that you need to have a state park [be] safe — safe for our children safe for those who use [it],” said Rep. JoAnn Osmond, a sponsor of House Bill 5789. “This is a user fee. This is only for people that come and use the parks.”
As of last summer, the DNR said that there was $750 million in repairs and maintenance needed at the state’s parks. (For more on the deferred maintenance on state parks, see Illinois Issues July/August 2011.)
Osmond, an Antioch Republican, said: “The parks are desperate for repairs. They need their roads repaired. They need buildings redone. They need the sewer [and] septic systems all refinished, and that’s what this bill is for. It’s to give the parks access to repairs.” Osmond estimates that her bill would create between $8 million and $9 million in revenue for DNR.
The bill leaves most of the details up to the department by simply giving it the power to collect fees. It does not set costs for the fees.
Osmond said that imposing a fee would not create new administrative costs for the DNR. She said the fees would be enforced by the department’s conservation officers, much in the same way that hunting and fishing licenses are now, and new staff for enforcement would not be needed. “It’s really more on the honor system,” she said.
“No one likes to vote for a fee increase, but if we believe in having the parks, having them open and having them safe, then we need to do this,” said Rep. Donald Moffitt, a Republican from Gilson.
The legislation passed with bipartisan support, but several lawmakers said they were concerned that the money raised by fees would be swept into the General Revenue Fund and not go toward park maintenance.
Osmond noted that most recently, Gov. Pat Quinn has practiced interfund borrowing — which requires that money taken from special funds be paid back with interest — instead of simply sweeping funds. Osmond said that since the repairs are so needed and Quinn supported reopening the parks after his predecessor, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, closed many of them, it is unlikely he would want to sweep the funds. “I think that the chances of it being swept in the near future are very slim.” Blagojevich swept fees from several DNR funds but later had to replace some of the money that came from federal sources.
Rep. Jack Franks, a Marengo Democrat, argued that the legislation would not ensure that the fees go toward repairs. “There’s many new possibilities for the department to raise money on fees. What I don’t see in this bill is anything that would safeguard those monies. There’s nothing in this bill that would prevent a fund sweep.”
The bill now goes to the Senate.
Showing posts with label State parks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label State parks. Show all posts
Monday, March 26, 2012
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
DNR supports admission fees at state parks
By Jamey Dunn
Hikers, hunters, vacationing families and outdoors enthusiasts may soon have to pay a fee for entrance to the state’s parks.
House Bill 5789 would allow the Department of Natural Resources to set fees for people driving and walking into Illinois state parks. A House committee approved the legislation this afternoon.
Jay Curtis, chief of staff for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, said the need for new revenue has grown out of a decade of under funding the department. However, Curtis said he overstated the problem when he recently said that his agency is on the brink of closing its doors. “What I was really saying was that we need to find an alternative funding mechanism for the agency to make it sustainable. We all know the [general revenue funds are] being stretched thin and rightfully so. I mean, there’s a lot of needs all over the state,” he said. “What we’re trying to do this session is find a way to fund this agency outside of [the general revenue fund].”
Curtis said that in the past, DNR has tried to “slow down” bills that would allow entrance fees at state parks, but this year, the department supports the idea. “We’re one of only seven states right now in the United States that does not have an entrance fee [for parks] of some sort.”
The bill does not set specific fee levels, and Curtis said the department is still in the early stages of determining what the fees might be. However, he estimates they could bring in $8 million to $12 million for DNR. Curtis said the department is still working on other ideas to find funding outside of the General Revenue Fund. Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget proposal calls for $45.3 million for DNR, which would be a 13 percent cut from last year’s budget. Curtis says it is years of cuts and fund sweeps, not Quinn’s proposal, that created the need for the fees.
Rep. Mary Flowers, a Chicago Democrat, voiced concern for families who may not be able to afford entry into parks. “These are very difficult times for people across the nation and certainly across the state,” Flowers said at today’s committee hearing. “Sometimes you just need a place to go.”
Rep. JoAnn Osmond, the bill's sponsor, responded, “Unless we can get the money to get them safe, we’re not going to be in position where we can keep our parks open."
Osmond, an Antioch Republican, pointed to the Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach Park in her district. The park, located in Zion, suffered damage during storms last July that knocked over several trees and left many of them leaning. Parts of the park have since been closed because the trees present a safety hazard. Osmond said DNR hopes to reopen all of the park by April 1.
“Our parks are a place where people can go — and especially at a time when there’s such budget problems for people in their homes — to find a place that’s cheap, inexpensive, but good for their family,” Curtis said. “A $5 to $10 fee for entrance, there would be people in the state that it could have an effect on, but by and large, just about everyone could afford that entrance [fee.] It’s still a cheaper option than going to Six Flags or taking the trip to Florida that people can’t afford right now.”
He added, “The alternative is struggling to have a sustainable park system in the future.”
Marc Miller, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, has vowed not to close any state parks.
For more on the deterioration of Illinois' state parks, see Illinois Issues July/August 2011.
Hikers, hunters, vacationing families and outdoors enthusiasts may soon have to pay a fee for entrance to the state’s parks.
House Bill 5789 would allow the Department of Natural Resources to set fees for people driving and walking into Illinois state parks. A House committee approved the legislation this afternoon.
Jay Curtis, chief of staff for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, said the need for new revenue has grown out of a decade of under funding the department. However, Curtis said he overstated the problem when he recently said that his agency is on the brink of closing its doors. “What I was really saying was that we need to find an alternative funding mechanism for the agency to make it sustainable. We all know the [general revenue funds are] being stretched thin and rightfully so. I mean, there’s a lot of needs all over the state,” he said. “What we’re trying to do this session is find a way to fund this agency outside of [the general revenue fund].”
Curtis said that in the past, DNR has tried to “slow down” bills that would allow entrance fees at state parks, but this year, the department supports the idea. “We’re one of only seven states right now in the United States that does not have an entrance fee [for parks] of some sort.”
The bill does not set specific fee levels, and Curtis said the department is still in the early stages of determining what the fees might be. However, he estimates they could bring in $8 million to $12 million for DNR. Curtis said the department is still working on other ideas to find funding outside of the General Revenue Fund. Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget proposal calls for $45.3 million for DNR, which would be a 13 percent cut from last year’s budget. Curtis says it is years of cuts and fund sweeps, not Quinn’s proposal, that created the need for the fees.
Rep. Mary Flowers, a Chicago Democrat, voiced concern for families who may not be able to afford entry into parks. “These are very difficult times for people across the nation and certainly across the state,” Flowers said at today’s committee hearing. “Sometimes you just need a place to go.”
Rep. JoAnn Osmond, the bill's sponsor, responded, “Unless we can get the money to get them safe, we’re not going to be in position where we can keep our parks open."
Osmond, an Antioch Republican, pointed to the Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach Park in her district. The park, located in Zion, suffered damage during storms last July that knocked over several trees and left many of them leaning. Parts of the park have since been closed because the trees present a safety hazard. Osmond said DNR hopes to reopen all of the park by April 1.
“Our parks are a place where people can go — and especially at a time when there’s such budget problems for people in their homes — to find a place that’s cheap, inexpensive, but good for their family,” Curtis said. “A $5 to $10 fee for entrance, there would be people in the state that it could have an effect on, but by and large, just about everyone could afford that entrance [fee.] It’s still a cheaper option than going to Six Flags or taking the trip to Florida that people can’t afford right now.”
He added, “The alternative is struggling to have a sustainable park system in the future.”
Marc Miller, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, has vowed not to close any state parks.
For more on the deterioration of Illinois' state parks, see Illinois Issues July/August 2011.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
"TEA Party" held and historic sites to reopen
by Hilary Russell and Jamey DunnPhotographs by Hilary Russell
Anti-tax protesters gathered in front of the Illinois Capitol today, shouting the message that they are Taxed Enough Already (TEA) on the last day people can file their income taxes without an extension. Meanwhile, Gov. Pat Quinn launched a new Web site intended to help taxpayers and government employees report corruption.
Today’s protest was one of several TEA parties held around the nation to demonstrate opposition to government spending and rising taxes under President Barack Obama’s administration.
In Illinois, taxpayers face a potential 50 percent income tax increase (from 3 percent to 4.5 percent for individuals and 4.8 percent to 7.2 percent for corporations). The legislature also is considering hiking sales taxes on cigarettes, some flavored coffee drinks and motor fuel as a way to help generate more revenue and plug a budget deficit projected to reach as much as $12.4 billion.
Protesters booed, waved American flags and raised signs that read,“Big government is the problem, not the solution,” “Read my lipstick, no more payments,” and “Vote to raise our taxes, and we will vote you out of office.”
Rep. Lou Lang, deputy House majority leader from Skokie, said he understands why people are angry at the prospect of increased taxes nationally and locally.
“For most of us here, no one wants to raise taxes, or raise fees and costs on people,” said Lang, who was in the Capitol today even though the General Assembly is on spring break. “But as we try to get through the spring session and we have to try and come to grips with a $12 billion hole in our budget and how we are going to deal with that, we may have to bite the bullet and raise some taxes. N
one of us would like to do that; we’d like to avoid it.”Quinn, at a news conference in Chicago, said he supports citizens taking to the streets to make their opinions known, but he’s still waiting to hear alternatives to an income tax increase.
“We’ve heard a lot of chirping, but nobody has a specific concrete plan that gets the job done, without having to raise revenue in order to pay down the 11 and a half billion dollar deficit,” he said.
Meanwhile, he launched a government Web site aimed at getting people to report fraud that involves taxpayer dollars.
The site is supposed to make it easier for people to take advantage of a 1991 Illinois whistleblower protection law that encourages citizens to expose corruption and theft by offering a financial incentive. The law applies to all levels of government. According to Quinn, the law has already led to exposing Medicaid fraud and crooked highway contractors.
Quinn said that citizens have an obligation to help police their government. “We as taxpayers have, I think, a duty to keep our eyes open. We want anyone who would even think of committing fraud against the taxpayers to think twice about it,” he said.
Historic sites to open soon
Quinn also announced in his press conference today that some of the state historic sites could reopen as early as next week.
Dave Blanchette, spokesman for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, said that notices to return to work have been sent to all 33 agency employees who were laid off late last year. He said that the agency has asked them to come back April 22 and that at least some historic sites should reopen by the end of next week.
Blanchette said that all 11 sites that were closed by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich last year will be reopened, but the timing depends on how soon employees are available to come back to work. The governor and the agency will be making a formal announcement sometime next week.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Parks reopen, special election debate rekindles, Scully resigns
By Jamey Dunn and Bethany Jaeger
Gov. Pat Quinn announced the reopening of seven state parks today, although they’re not yet fully staffed. And Quinn said that he will soon make an announcement about reopening closed historic sites.
As of this morning, Castle Rock State Park and Lowden State Park in Oregon, Illini State Park in Marseilles, Hidden Springs State Forest in Strasburg, Moraine View State Park in Leroy, Weldon Springs State Park in Clinton and Wolf Creek State Park in Windsor are all open to visitors.
According to Marc Miller, Head of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, it will take $1.1 million to keep these parks open for the rest of the fiscal year. He said that the department would pay for the reopening of the parks by tapping into special dedicated funds as part of a plan approved by the General Assembly in October. He said the agency won’t need to take funding from any other state operations.
Quinn said state parks generate an estimated $500 million in tourism dollars that “far outweigh” the money spent on keeping them open. Miller said more than 43 million people go to Illinois state parks every year, with 230,000 visiting the seven state parks last year before they were closed.
“We’ve got to get our economy out of the ditch. Part of doing that is making sure our parks are open,” Quinn said.
Quinn called the move both a public health and economic initiative targeted at getting people to exercise outdoors and to help create jobs by spurring local economies. He called upon Illinoisans to “pack our parks” as a frugal vacation option.
Special election update
While Republicans used Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s opinion as support for their wish to call for a special election to replace U.S. Sen. Roland Burris — regardless of whether he’s still in office — House and Senate Democrats are floating their own plans about calling special elections to fill vacancies. However, none are agreed upon bills.
Senate Democrats held two special election proposals and assigned them to subcommittees, which have served as legislative graveyards in the past. Executive Committee Chairman Ira Silverstein said they are to be working committees intended to give more time to debate such controversial measures.
Republican Sen. Matt Murphy, the Palatine Republican sponsoring one measure kicked out to subcommittee, said he was disappointed that the bill wasn’t called for debate today but that he doesn’t think it’s dead. “We’ve been embarrassed at least twice in this process now, and I’m going to continue to try and see that it doesn’t happen again.” We wrote about what the bill would do this morning.
A Democratic version is sponsored by Sen. Rickey Hendon of Chicago, who supports the idea to hold a special election to fill all vacancies, from county commissioners to state and U.S. senators. “People should have a right to vote in every case.”
The last time Hendon sponsored a bill that took such a broad approach was when he expanded the idea of allowing voters to recall elected officials from state legislators to local government officials. That bill died in committee, although Hendon said he did not intend for the special election bill to suffer the same fate.
He also took issue with a House bill, sponsored by Rep. Jack Franks and backed by the governor. “The House bill is another game, in my opinion, because they still just want to concentrate on Roland Burris, Roland Burris.”
Senate President John Cullerton said he’s waiting to see what the House does before the Senate acts. “This is a different, cooperative procedure that we’re geared to this year while we work together with both chambers. So I don’t want to just send messages over to the House without having an idea about what they’re going to do.”
Franks, a Woodstock Democrat, said he is waiting for a meeting with House Speaker Michael Madigan to discuss the status of his two special election bills. “The opinion indicates that it’s in our hands now and we have the power if want to set this election. I’m going to impress upon him the necessity to do so,” Franks said.
Franks said he is worried that if Burris files a lawsuit questioning the legality of holding an election, a long legal battle could ensue that makes the whole issue moot. “We could be stuck in court for months. I’m sure we’d be in court longer then when the next election would be in February of 2010,” he said.
Rep. Lou Lang, an assistant majority leader from Skokie, said the Democratic Caucus is divided on the issue. “This is not about Mr. Burris. It’s about what we do with the laws in the state of Illinois. Rod Blagojevich, as unfortunate as it was, made a legal appointment of Mr. Burris while he was still governor,” he said.
Judge Scully
Democrats and Republicans bid farewell, thank you and good luck to Rep. George Scully, who retired today to serve an appointment to the Cook County circuit court bench.
He was elected in 1996 to represent the south suburban Chicago House District 80. He has since dissected complex regulation and legal issues, including managing the heated and lengthy debate about regulating the electric utility industry after rates skyrocketed in 2005. He also reached out to numerous legislators to help them think through legislation, regardless of whether he agreed with them.
“He would see all sides, and for that, he was a very judicious legislator,” said Rep. Kevin Joyce, a Chicago Democrat and family friend.
A marathon runner, including the Boston Marathon, the “sergeant,” as he was called, often led a group of legislators and political insiders on four-mile runs around Springfield before session days. The nickname refers to his very serious but polite and professional manner in which he conducts himself.
“Tender, laid back, relaxed, easy going, soft. These are not words I would use to describe George Scully,” said Rep. John Bradley, a Marion Democrat, joking before adding that Scully has a “keen mind and a true heart.”
Several Republicans also said their thanks. “I think many of us would like Rep. Scully to stay. He’s going to be a loss to this process, a loss to this chamber,” said Rep. Bill Black, a Danville Republican.
Scully said he’s leaving the legislature with a confidence in the state’s Constitution. “It has survived tremendous assault, and it came out very strong,” he said of the consecutive corruption allegations staining the state.
He ended by reciting insight he’d received 12 years ago: Trust the voters. People can accept that you disagree with them. They will never accept the fact that they’re being ignored.
Gov. Pat Quinn announced the reopening of seven state parks today, although they’re not yet fully staffed. And Quinn said that he will soon make an announcement about reopening closed historic sites.
As of this morning, Castle Rock State Park and Lowden State Park in Oregon, Illini State Park in Marseilles, Hidden Springs State Forest in Strasburg, Moraine View State Park in Leroy, Weldon Springs State Park in Clinton and Wolf Creek State Park in Windsor are all open to visitors.
According to Marc Miller, Head of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, it will take $1.1 million to keep these parks open for the rest of the fiscal year. He said that the department would pay for the reopening of the parks by tapping into special dedicated funds as part of a plan approved by the General Assembly in October. He said the agency won’t need to take funding from any other state operations.
Quinn said state parks generate an estimated $500 million in tourism dollars that “far outweigh” the money spent on keeping them open. Miller said more than 43 million people go to Illinois state parks every year, with 230,000 visiting the seven state parks last year before they were closed.
“We’ve got to get our economy out of the ditch. Part of doing that is making sure our parks are open,” Quinn said.
Quinn called the move both a public health and economic initiative targeted at getting people to exercise outdoors and to help create jobs by spurring local economies. He called upon Illinoisans to “pack our parks” as a frugal vacation option.
Special election update
While Republicans used Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s opinion as support for their wish to call for a special election to replace U.S. Sen. Roland Burris — regardless of whether he’s still in office — House and Senate Democrats are floating their own plans about calling special elections to fill vacancies. However, none are agreed upon bills.
Senate Democrats held two special election proposals and assigned them to subcommittees, which have served as legislative graveyards in the past. Executive Committee Chairman Ira Silverstein said they are to be working committees intended to give more time to debate such controversial measures.
Republican Sen. Matt Murphy, the Palatine Republican sponsoring one measure kicked out to subcommittee, said he was disappointed that the bill wasn’t called for debate today but that he doesn’t think it’s dead. “We’ve been embarrassed at least twice in this process now, and I’m going to continue to try and see that it doesn’t happen again.” We wrote about what the bill would do this morning.
A Democratic version is sponsored by Sen. Rickey Hendon of Chicago, who supports the idea to hold a special election to fill all vacancies, from county commissioners to state and U.S. senators. “People should have a right to vote in every case.”
The last time Hendon sponsored a bill that took such a broad approach was when he expanded the idea of allowing voters to recall elected officials from state legislators to local government officials. That bill died in committee, although Hendon said he did not intend for the special election bill to suffer the same fate.
He also took issue with a House bill, sponsored by Rep. Jack Franks and backed by the governor. “The House bill is another game, in my opinion, because they still just want to concentrate on Roland Burris, Roland Burris.”
Senate President John Cullerton said he’s waiting to see what the House does before the Senate acts. “This is a different, cooperative procedure that we’re geared to this year while we work together with both chambers. So I don’t want to just send messages over to the House without having an idea about what they’re going to do.”
Franks, a Woodstock Democrat, said he is waiting for a meeting with House Speaker Michael Madigan to discuss the status of his two special election bills. “The opinion indicates that it’s in our hands now and we have the power if want to set this election. I’m going to impress upon him the necessity to do so,” Franks said.
Franks said he is worried that if Burris files a lawsuit questioning the legality of holding an election, a long legal battle could ensue that makes the whole issue moot. “We could be stuck in court for months. I’m sure we’d be in court longer then when the next election would be in February of 2010,” he said.
Rep. Lou Lang, an assistant majority leader from Skokie, said the Democratic Caucus is divided on the issue. “This is not about Mr. Burris. It’s about what we do with the laws in the state of Illinois. Rod Blagojevich, as unfortunate as it was, made a legal appointment of Mr. Burris while he was still governor,” he said.
Judge Scully
Democrats and Republicans bid farewell, thank you and good luck to Rep. George Scully, who retired today to serve an appointment to the Cook County circuit court bench.
He was elected in 1996 to represent the south suburban Chicago House District 80. He has since dissected complex regulation and legal issues, including managing the heated and lengthy debate about regulating the electric utility industry after rates skyrocketed in 2005. He also reached out to numerous legislators to help them think through legislation, regardless of whether he agreed with them.
“He would see all sides, and for that, he was a very judicious legislator,” said Rep. Kevin Joyce, a Chicago Democrat and family friend.
A marathon runner, including the Boston Marathon, the “sergeant,” as he was called, often led a group of legislators and political insiders on four-mile runs around Springfield before session days. The nickname refers to his very serious but polite and professional manner in which he conducts himself.
“Tender, laid back, relaxed, easy going, soft. These are not words I would use to describe George Scully,” said Rep. John Bradley, a Marion Democrat, joking before adding that Scully has a “keen mind and a true heart.”
Several Republicans also said their thanks. “I think many of us would like Rep. Scully to stay. He’s going to be a loss to this process, a loss to this chamber,” said Rep. Bill Black, a Danville Republican.
Scully said he’s leaving the legislature with a confidence in the state’s Constitution. “It has survived tremendous assault, and it came out very strong,” he said of the consecutive corruption allegations staining the state.
He ended by reciting insight he’d received 12 years ago: Trust the voters. People can accept that you disagree with them. They will never accept the fact that they’re being ignored.
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