State camping fees to rise Friday

By Kurt Erickson | Tuesday, May 20, 2008

SPRINGFIELD — Campers should pack some extra cash this weekend if they plan on spending a night in one of the state’s public campgrounds.

On Tuesday, a legislative panel approved Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s plan to boost fees at state campgrounds.

Beginning Friday, the state will double the $5 surcharge for electric hookups at state parks. In addition, campers using premium sites will pay an extra $10 per day fee on holiday weekends, including Memorial Day.

The added fees could boost the cost of a premium site to

$35 per day.

However, the added fee for holiday weekends will not be charged to people who already have reserved campsites for this weekend. It will be in effect for the Fourth of July and Labor Day, Department of Natural Resources spokesman Chris McCloud said.

Three members of the legislative panel who voted against the increase said it is unfair to raise fees on people when food and fuel prices also are on the rise.

“I really do have a concern with these rising fees,” said Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Clare, who was joined in opposition to the increases by Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, and Rep. David Leitch, R-Peoria.

Under questioning from lawmakers, an attorney for the DNR made it clear the higher fees for campers weren’t his idea.

“I really will not accept the blame … thank you very much,” Jack Price said. “I’m not real fond of them myself.”

The plan is aimed at helping DNR raise money to offset higher electric usage and maintenance costs. DNR says the state lost $900,000 in utility costs last year because of the heavier electrical loads being used by modern motor homes.

Kurt Erickson can be contacted at kurt.erickson@lee.net or 217-789-0865. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.