Oregon to charge 25% more for out of state RV campers

NO one seems to take into consideration travelers buy local fuel, groceries, and pay fees for attractions and entertainment, including state taxes.

Maybe every state should charge the same for all campers, then every state would probably get more traveling campers for longer stays, AND generate more state revenue overall. We cannot ONLY compare state park fees to arrive at all state revenues generated from out-of-state campers.

I don't know... NY state parks have always charged extra for us out-of-staters. And we still camp in many of them every year. Doesn't deter us in the least.

monkey44 wrote:
NO one seems to take into consideration travelers buy local fuel, groceries, and pay fees for attractions and entertainment, including state taxes.

Maybe every state should charge the same for all campers, then every state would probably get more traveling campers for longer stays, AND generate more state revenue overall. We cannot ONLY compare state park fees to arrive at all state revenues generated from out-of-state campers.

I suspect the number of RV travelers that base there destination decisions on how much the state parks charge is extremely close zero. The parks are apparently full, so the local businesses are going to do just fine. Fact is a dollar from an Oregon resident is exactly as valuable as a dollar from a Kentucky resident as far as any merchant is concerned.

OSP are primarily funded by user fees and a small % of lottery revenue and there is no sales tax in OR. Users need to pay up to maintain and/or expand the system. It's ALWAYS easier to raise fees and taxes on non-residents, ie non-voters.

Just like ID Dept Fish and Game, which does not get funding from the ID state general tax revenue which forces the IDFG to raise fees ($75 non-res tag for 1 sage grouse this year!!!!) and offer way more tags (deer) than the population can support to generate revenue to fund their operation. Last year the non-res elk tag which was ~$450 is right around $750 for 2021.

wapiticountry wrote:
Considering residents pay income and property taxes to Oregon that fund things like parks and out of state campers do not, it seems only fair that residents should get a break.

Well Oregon state parks are not tax payer supported, the funding is from three major sources, user fees, a share of lottery dollars, and a percentage of RV registration fees.

ksg5000 wrote:
I am from Oregon and have always had to pay an out of state fee when I camp in adjacent Washington. Our campgrounds are maxed out - it's hard to get a spot these days. I would have preferred them giving Oregon residence a discount but that would ask Politicians to cut revenue - something that will never happen. In short - I don't mind they charge a reasonable fee to out of state campers.

Well we have been hosting for Oregon State parks for going on eight years. We have hosted coastal parks for about four years of that. It has constantly been getting busier winter on the coast the parks were sometimes near empty, usually due to weather (storms) to 3/4 full . The two parks nearest Newport, South Beach, and Beverly Beach would be fully open all loops except tent loops, and full for the February Newport Seafood and wine festival.
The last couple summers the coastal campgrounds the FULL sign goes up mid May and stays up until the end of September.
A newer park west of Portland was seldom full except of weekends until the last couple years it very full all summer long.
The park system took a funding hit during the pandemic with three months of closure, loss of lottery income, and moratorium of vehicle registration renewals.

I am a bit surprised as many others that Oregon has NOT been charging more for non-residents all this time. I just assume that when I go to another state's parks that I will pay more.

I have no problem with that. As a state resident, all those fees and taxes I pay in my state in addition to a "gate fee" helps to pay for all the state's parks and facilities.

Speaking of fishing license cost - hunting license fee differences can be breathtaking. In Connecticut ("base" fee, there are a lot of add-ons available), a resident deer hunting license is $19. Non-resident fee is $91.

I hunted for years in Vermont, usually only a couple weekends, and I paid the non-resident fees.

It has always been that way, the differences between resident and non-resident fees for mostly everything.

At least up here in the New England area.

rhagfo wrote:

wapiticountry wrote:
Considering residents pay income and property taxes to Oregon that fund things like parks and out of state campers do not, it seems only fair that residents should get a break.

Well Oregon state parks are not tax payer supported, the funding is from three major sources, user fees, a share of lottery dollars, and a percentage of RV registration fees.

Even so, I doubt much of the revenue from Lottery sales and RV registrations come from out of state visitors. Oregon residents still provide the vast majority of the funding for the Parks.

Greed abounds. The campground that we stay at on a monthly basis (at a discounted rate) is dropping their monthly sites because they can make more money on nightlies and a full campground.

Super_Dave wrote:
Greed abounds. The campground that we stay at on a monthly basis (at a discounted rate) is dropping their monthly sites because they can make more money on nightlies and a full campground.

Unlike that dirty rotten greedy park owner, I am sure you have passed on every chance you have had to increase your income.
In retrospect that appears to be a bad decision on your part. Because if you had taken those opportunities to increase your income you could likely afford to pay that nightly rate and still stay for a month.