Officials don't like new parking fees

But they lave little power to stop ODNR from implementing them.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Unless lawmakers can come up with a last-minute replacement, there's little they can do to stop a new parking pass for state parks that unites Democrats and Republicans in distaste.
Possibly as early as April, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will start selling $25 annual passes for the 74 state parks, and starting in May will charge $5 a day to each vehicle without a pass, to stave off service and maintenance cuts.
"They have the right in their statute to do this, much as we don't like what they're doing," Rep. Merle Grace Kearns said.
The Springfield Republican is on a 10-member House-Senate committee that meets Monday to review rules proposed by state agencies, including the fees.
Members can only reject agency rules that exceed legal authority, violate the intent of the law or conflict with another rule.
Kearns has seen that happen once in her 14 years in the Senate and House.
'Horrible public policy'
"I think it's horrible public policy," said Sen. Jay Hottinger, another committee member, but he can't find a way to turn down the fees.
After the rules committee comes a state budget panel, the Controlling Board, that votes on whether the agency can spend money on startup costs such as printing passes and buying secure barrels for visitors to drop money. If the panel votes that down March 28, the parks would come up with another way to collect money and distribute passes, spokeswoman Jane Beathard said.
A message seeking comment was left for the board's chairman, Rep. Chuck Calvert, a Medina Republican.
The fees are expected to raise $3 million the first year, and Natural Resources Department Director Sam Speck has said the fee could raise as much as $10 million in a few years.
It would cost about $500,000 a year for printing costs, enforcement and pass sales over the Internet.
Other members of the rules group tried unsuccessfully to persuade the agency and Gov. Bob Taft to replace the fees with a different way for the parks to raise the money, such as adding a voluntary donation to annual vehicle registration payments.
Rep. Timothy Grendell, an attorney, says he's confident he's found a conflict between the law governing the parks agency and other state laws, but won't say what it is before the rules meeting on Monday.
The Geauga County Republican also introduced legislation seeking to remove the agency's authority to impose fees.
Objection
Democrats and Republicans have objected that the fees will hurt low-income families who depend on free park access for recreation.
"I really, really hate the idea that we have to support a state park because the budget won't do it," said Rep. Kenneth Carano, a Youngstown Democrat.
Not all members are opposed. Sen. Robert Schuler, a suburban Cincinnati Republican, said with today's gas prices, "You spend $5 going anywhere."
Seniors would pay less for the pass, out-of-state visitors more. Walk-in and bicycling visitors would not be charged.
Daily fees would be used for maintenance at the parks where they're collected, while the annual pass money would go into a rotating fund.
"We're not in love with the Parks Pride Pass. It's the best alternative we can see at this point," Beathard said.
"We would certainly entertain any kind of alternative plan."