It’s going to cost you more to golf, camp, launch your boat and park — among other things — at Suffolk County parks in 2016.
The Suffolk County Legislature voted yesterday to approve the fee hikes for golfing, camping, hunting and entry to county beaches and parks. It’s the first increase in user fees since 2011.
The new fee schedule was part of County Executive Steve Bellone’s budget, which was already passed by the legislature and signed by Bellone. The fee increases, which take effect Jan. 1, will bring in more than three-quarters of a million dollars in new revenues.
The county parks department Green Key pass, which entitles holders to reduced admission to county parks and beaches, will increase from $24 to $26. The price of the three-year pass has risen 30 percent since 2010. The Green Key discount rate — for senior citizens 60 and over, handicapped, volunteer firefighters and EMS workers — will go up from $11 to $13.
The cost of a round of golf for residents is going up by two bucks, from $28 to $30 on weekdays and $30 to $32 on weekends and holidays. Discount rates (weekdays only) for seniors and vollies will rise to $18. Nonresident greens fees are going up from $38 to $40 weekdays and from $45 to 47 weekends and holidays.
Twilight greens fees discount rates are going up from $18 to $20 for residents and $30 to $32 for nonresidents. Senior twilight rates (weekdays only, excluding holidays) are rising from $11 to $12.
The fees for nine holes of golf at county courses are rising from $15 to $16 for residents on weekdays ($9 to $10 for seniors) and from $18 to $20 on weekends.
Daily parking at parks with lifeguards will increase from 8 to $9 for residents with Green Key cards and from $15 to $16 for nonresidents and residents without Green Key cards.
Daily parking fees at parks without lifeguards, including Indian Island, will go from $6 to $7 for residents with Green Key cards and from $13 to $14 for nonresidents and residents without Green Key cards.
Seasonal parking rates, available to Green Key holders only, will rise from $40 to $50 for limited access and from $65 to $75 for unlimited access.
Camping fees will also rise, from $15 to $17 per night in season for campsites without electric hookups and from $20 to $22 for campsites with electric hookups (residents) and from $25 to $27 per night for “premium” sites.The discount rate for seniors, handicapped and fire/EMS volunteers will rise from $9 to $10 per sites.
Off-season camping fees will go up as well: from $10 to $11 for sites without electric hookup, from $12 to $13 for sites with hookups, and from $22 to $24 for premium sites (residents). The off-season discount rate will rise from $5 to $7.
The reservation fee per site will go up from $12 to $13. Cancellation fees will rise, too, as will group rates, late checkout fees, sump station fees, and rowboat rentals.
Fishing fees, both daily and seasonal, will rise: from $3 to $4 for freshwater daily and from $12 to $14 for saltwater night fishing (daily). Freshwater seasonal rates will go from $35 to $38.
Permit fees for duck, deer, falconry and raccoon hunting, both daily and seasonal, will also climb.
The cost of an annual boat launch permit will increase from $30 to $33.
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