Louisiana State Park fee increases

westernrvparkowner wrote:
Contrary to what we all believe, most legislators are actually pretty dang smart. Even though all the site fees often flow to the general fund, it is very easy to track the incomes versus the expenses for state park campgrounds. It is never going to be popular in legislative circles to subsidize a very small segment of the voting population. Use fees are going to become more and more popular as states grapple with how to balance budgets and keep the voting public happy. Use fees are pretty much a voluntary tax, which makes it a popular choice when states look to add to their coffers.

I don't doubt the overall intelligence of the collective bodies of state's ('cept the occasional ones I know are only out for selves;)) legislatures but having to do the math on your own leads to misunderstanding, a lack of transparency, and the infrastructure of our SPs looking much like many an interstate road. Treating state parks like cash cows is inherently wrong IMO if the wrong 'uns get into office and use the income for pet projects or to fill a need they neglected to fund in the past.

To me, state parks, should reflect the same ethos of federal parks- a treasure for the ages that reflect pride in our lands.