Vehicle entry fees at Nebraska state parks will rise at least 20 percent next year after the state’s legislature voted to override Republican Gov. Dave Hieneman’s veto of a bill raising the fees.
On Jan. 1, 2012, annual resident permits for Nebraska state parks and recreation areas will go from $20 to $25 per car, and nonresident permits from $25 to $30. Temporary permits will increase by $1 each.
Money raised by the increased fees will go toward reducing a $34 million maintenance backlog at the Nebraska Game and Parks Department. Nebraska’s more than 80 state parks draw approximately nine million visitors a year. The system only gets about 30 percent of its budget from the state’s general revenue fund, with the balance coming from fees.
