Where Do RV Fees Go?

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Story Published: Aug 15, 2008 at 10:44 PM MDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 1:44 AM MDT

By Mary Sturgill

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IDAHO FALLS - Friday we brought the story about the lack of free RV dump Sites in our area, particularly why the dump site at Beeches Corner is closed. That report uncovered more questions. So taking action for you, Eyewitness News looked into those questions to find out where the RV fees go and why places that didn't used to charge, are now charging. Here's what we found out.

"We're having to pay a fee every year and now all the sudden we're having to pay extra to dump our waste. I'd just like to know what's up with that, where's the money going." Asks Susan Mathis

So I set out to find the answer to that question. I called different agencies and finally went to Janice Leonard with Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. She says, "The recreational vehicle fees go to the Recreational Vehicle Program and it's basically a program that is designed to provide financial assistance to public agencies in the form of grants to provide facilities for recreational vehicle users."

But RVer Susan Mathis says they are often still paying when they take the RV on a trip, "You can drive down any street in Idaho Falls and see at least 2 Rv's, so what are we supposed to do except keep paying and paying and paying?

The cost of upkeep at RV dump sites is so expensive that many places like Riverside Park Campground at Palisades is now charging five dollars just to help offset the maintenance costs. According to Janice Leonard, "Those maintenance costs aren't covered in the grant system. "Normal routine maintenance would not be a good grant."

Reporter Mary Sturgill Asks, "So really the county, the cities and the entities that apply for these grants really need to look into the future and not just worry about the grant to get it started. They need to figure out how they're gonna maintain it?"

"They do need to figure out what's gonna happen 20 years down the road." says Janice Leonard, Idaho Department of Parks and Rec.

Last year from those RV fees, the state awarded 3.3 million dollars in grants.

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