Cost of campgrounds

mowermech wrote:

DownTheAvenue wrote:

jeffcarp wrote:

But what's truly amazing are the taxes. I make a habit to look at my receipt every time I check out of a hotel and look at the total taxes. Even at the low end of hotel costs $125-$150, a single night's taxes will pay for most campground nights in full.

Politicians have learned that taxing hotel room charges, as well as rental car fees is a way to raise money without invoking anger from their constituents, as those taxes are almost always paid for by visitors.

They have now discovered campgrounds, and camping fees are being taxed in some areas, too.

Yes, and I really detest having to pay a "bed tax" to sleep in my own bed!
Perhaps that is why I rarely stay at a commercial RV park, preferring State Parks and USFS campgrounds, even though there are usually no hookups and no dump station, and I often have to take my garbage home with me ("Pack It In, Pack It Out"; no garbage service, either).
On a side note, it is surprising how little water one can use, and how little garbage one can generate given sufficient incentive!

If it makes you feel better, in Montana it's called a Lodging Facilities Tax and a Resort Tax. Some of the funds go to regional marketing groups within the state to promote tourism. Some of the funds are added to the State General Fund and some of the funds (resort tax portion) goes to the local area to fund infrastructure etc. There is logic to these taxes. Tourists do use local and state services and otherwise pay no taxes in Montana. (Montana does not have a sales tax). These taxes help take the burden of providing those services to tourists off of the residents of the state.