Access digital copies of guides and regulations publications from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Issue link: http://digital.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1515540
32 2023 Annual Report • Management State park entry permit increases for 2024 Nebraska's state park system is one of the best and most diverse in the country, boosts local tourism, and has an overall impact of more than $750 million on the state's economy. Our 78 state parks, recreation areas and historical parks offer a variety of opportunities for Nebraskans and nonresidents to recreate outdoors in some of the most scenic places around. To help meet customer needs and their expectations for high-quality park experiences, Nebraska Game and Parks raised park permit fees, effective January 2024. The fee for the annual permit for Nebraska-licensed vehicles went from $30 to $35 and a daily permit from $6 to $7. That approval activated an increase in permit fees for vehicles licensed outside of Nebraska. Those annual permits increased from $60 to $70, with the daily permit increasing from $12 to $14. The duplicate permit went from $15 to $17.50 for Nebraska-licensed vehicles and $30 to $35 for vehicles licensed outside of Nebraska. Revenue generated from this fee increase will be used specifically to address higher construction costs associated with campground upgrades and facility maintenance and to address increases in operational costs. Park permit fees are essential for the operation and management of our park areas. Currently, 77% of our parks operational funds come from user fees, including park permits, lodging and camping fees, and other activity fees. The remaining 23% of our operational funds come from State of Nebraska General Funds. Park operational expenses have increased dramatically from 2019 to 2022. For example, the cost of a new half-ton pickup increased 86%; picnic table, 75%; campsite fire grill, 75%; gallon of exterior paint, 56%; annual garbage expense, 25%; annual fuel expense, 64%; and annual laundry expense, 33%. With this increase, Nebraska is tied for the 29th lowest cost out of the 38 states with resident vehicle park entry permits and 21st lowest cost out of the 39 states that have nonresident vehicle park entry permits. States that do not have a park permit, support their park systems with dedicated funds from sales taxes and other sources or rely 100% on legislative appropriated General Funds dollars. Camping at Summit Lake State Recreation Area.