Commission raises costs for long-term Wildwood camping

Some new fees are setting up camp at Wildwood Park in northern Columbia County.

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The new charges, which mostly focus on extended camping stays and picnic-shelter rentals, were approved unanimously Tuesday night by the county commission.

Among the changes are an increase from $400 to $450 for 30 days of camping. The cost per quarter for camper storage also now changes from $65 to $75, and day rentals of picnic pavilions rise from $100 to $200.

The charge for one night of camping is the same at $18 for the area that has an electric hookup for RVs and $10 a night for tent camping without electricity. The fee to enter the park, $2 for a car and $5 for a boat, also will remain the same.

In other action Tuesday, the commission discussed the proposed 2007-08 fiscal year budget, which won't be adopted until June 5. It is 9.63 percent, or $4.6 million, higher than the current fiscal year's budget.

Despite the increase, the budget could still make possible a 0.29 mill rollback in the county's rate, which currently is 9.38 mills.

Any rollback of the tax rate won't be considered until after the budget's adoption and will follow three rollback hearings set for 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. July 10 and 5:30 p.m. July 17, all at the Evans Government Center auditorium.

Among the proposed budget's individual department request are an 11.39 percent, or $1.3 million, increase for the sheriff's office for a total of $13.1 million. The county detention center budget also is proposed at a 6.9 percent, or $465,291, increase for a total of $7.1 million.

Meanwhile, the county's recreation budget is proposed to increase by 27 percent, or $450,543, at a total of $2.1 million. Public transit also is set to increase by $150,321, or 80 percent, for a total budget of $337,981.

Among the largest decreases was for the senior center, which is proposed to go down 40 percent, or $191,152, for a total budget of $282,950.