A bill authored by state Rep. Dave Hall, R-District 62, could provide financial help for Indiana counties where state parks and properties are located. House Bill 1245 would allow certain counties to add up to a $1 surcharge at state parks and recreation areas. People with annual passes and seniors with the Golden Hoosier pass would not pay the additional charge.
It's something Brown County council member Scott Rudd believes would bolster the finances needed to provide public safety services and enhance the quality of life for both residents and tourists in his county.
While there have been other bills proposed in past years to increase the entrance fees at state parks and properties, Rudd said this year it's important the bill is passed. Rudd said Indiana's new Gov. Mike Braun has talked about potentially cutting property taxes for Hoosiers. Any cuts could have a major impact on Brown County and other Hoosier counties, Rudd said.
Potential benefits of HB 1245 for Brown County
For rural Brown County, with about 15,000 residents and thousands of acres of state land — including Brown County State Park and Yellowwood State Forest — money from property taxes is already stretched thin, Rudd said. No property taxes are received from the public lands, Rudd explained, adding that Brown County State Park alone draws about 1 million of the more than 2 million visitors to the county each year.
"It’s like a small city we’re serving and we're getting zero taxes. The stress on our public safety has increased," Rudd said.
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