Bipartisan group proposes motor vehicle registration fee to maintain state parks

Article as it appeared in the Record Journal

HARTFORD — A bipartisan group of lawmakers Thursday pushed for the upcoming budget to include a new fee on motor vehicle registration to fund the state’s parks, forests and fish hatcheries.

In exchange for the $10 fee, Connecticut residents would be granted free parking, and thus free entry, into all state parks and forests as part of a program proponents have called “Passports to the Parks.”

Proponents say the fee is an attempt to create a new revenue stream dedicated to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and its operation of state parks, particularly because a looming $5 billion deficit over the next two years is forcing lawmakers and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to look for budget cuts.

“It’s time to do things differently and make sure that our parks thrive throughout the state of Connecticut,” said Sen. Paul Formica, R-East Lyme.

Lawmakers decried a lack of upkeep and maintenance already occurring at state parks, as the state only has a few dozen employees to manage 110 state parks and 30 state forests. The state also closed four of its 15 campgrounds this fiscal year, and Malloy has proposed going to “passive management” for many parks to allow employees to focus on the more popular shoreline parks and state beaches.

Rep. Melissa Ziobron, R-East Haddam, said it was “chilling to see every single campsite with grass that was knee high” during a recent visit to Rocky Neck State Park.

“The governor has encouraged all members of the legislature to bring their ideas to the table, and we appreciate members putting forth the Passport to Parks idea,” Chris Collibee, a spokesman for Malloy, said in a statement. “As the administration and legislative leaders work through the budget process we will need to give thoughtful consideration to the upside and pitfalls of this idea.”

The proposal would generate a projected $10 million, roughly half the $19.2 million spent last year to operate state parks.

Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, said that should be enough, though, to make up for cuts and keep parks open from spring through fall.

“I think that this is something that we can accomplish,” she said, adding she would also like them to remain open in the winter.

Residents would get free parking at all state parks, but would still have to pay any additional fees for activities like camping, which cover additional costs for water and other services. Out-of-state visitors would still be charged parking fees.

Sen. Craig Miner, R-Litchfield, said the bill “seems to have the least objectionable component” when compared with other proposed revenue generators, such as a 5 cent tax on non-reusable shopping bags.

“Some people may want to call it a tax, others might call it a user fee,” he acknowledged. “My constituents are becoming increasingly aggravated with the prospect of not being able to get into public property, or not having it taken care of.”