Senators override veto, state park permit fees increased

Lawmakers overrode a veto administered by the governor on a bill that authorizes the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to increase park entry permit fees May 17.

LB421, introduced by Louisville Sen. Dave Pankonin, will increase the maximum annual entry permit fee from $20 to $25 for resident motor vehicles and from $25 to $30 for nonresident motor vehicles. The maximum fee also will increase from $4 to $5 for temporary resident entry permits and from $5 to $6 for nonresidents.

The fee collected by entities issuing permits as reimbursement for clerical work also will increase. The current range for the fee is 25 to 35 cents, which will be dropped for a standard fee of $1.

Finally, the bill will require the placement of park permits on the driver’s side of vehicle windshields.

LB421 has an effective date of Jan. 1, 2012.

The bill was vetoed by Gov. Dave Heineman on May 11. In his veto message, the governor said raising fees is not the appropriate way to maintain state parks, and reducing expenditures should be the focus.

Pankonin filed a motion to override the governor’s veto. State parks receive 9 million visitors every year, Pankonin said, adding that state parks account for 15 of the top 25 tourist attractions in Nebraska. Parks are suffering from deferred maintenance, valued at $34 million, he said, so a fee increase is needed.

“This is the best way for a statewide resource to continue to produce economic benefits for Nebraskans,” Pankonin said, adding that the proposed increase still would result in the lowest entry fee among states that fund parks through user fees.

Imperial Sen. Mark Christensen agreed, saying the commission has resorted to returning some parks to local communities to reduce maintenance costs. An entry fee increase is needed to avoid reduced services and deferred maintenance in existing parks, he said.

Lexington Sen. John Wightman called the proposed $5 fee increase a reasonable measure to support parks.

“We are going to be better served by having nicer state parks than we are for having the lowest fee among all of the states for state parks,” Wightman said.

Columbus Sen. Paul Schumacher said the fee increase should be thought of as a “currency adjustment.” The entry fee proposed, adjusted for inflation, is slightly less than the 1978 fee, he said.

“Our currency is worth less over time. We have to adjust just to hold even,” Schumacher said.

Hoskins Sen. Dave Bloomfield opposed the motion to override the governor’s veto, saying the commission has made land acquisitions, which suggest it currently has the funds to support maintenance.

“We still have money to buy more land and take more property off the tax rolls” Bloomfield said, adding that fees need to remain affordable.

Lawmakers voted 42-5 to override the governor’s veto.