 Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn
wants to reduce the department's budget by 13.5 percent, or $16.2
million. IDNR currently has a budget of $61million.
House Bill 5789 passed the Illinois House with an 81-29 vote
Monday and now heads to the state Senate.
The bill -- which has Quinn's support -- gives IDNR the
discretion to set the fee. IDNR is considering $25 per person for an
annual pass to the state park system and between $5 and $10 for a
daily pass, said spokesman Chris McCloud.
The fees could generate about $9 million, said state Rep. JoAnn
Osmond, R-Antioch.
Supporters of the bill said it would allow IDNR to perform
much-needed maintenance.
Jack Darin, director of the Illinois Sierra Club, an
environmental advocacy organization, said: "I think it's a small
price to pay. Illinoians are used to going to state parks in
Wisconsin, which does charge user fees. Those parks are in great
shape. Our parks are not."
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By ANTHONY BRINO] |
