Campground Price Increase!

It been 2 years I think, since I stayed at NAS Whidbey Islands Cliffside RV Park. The last time we were there the price was $20 a night. Last night while searching for place to spend a few nights I noticed the price listed on their website is now $30 a night. While this is a nice park I think a 30% increase is highway robbery. As a retired service member I know I haven't had anymore than a 2 or 3 % pay increase in the last 8 or so years, how is this much of an increase justify?
Does anyone know who sets these prices? Any idea who would be the best person to complain to?

Thanks George

We have seen increases at several of the FamCamps but not at such a high %. When we ask them about the increase we usually get the response "private campgrounds raised their rates so we did also, but we are still lower than the private campgrounds".

I complain about the prices all the time to campground managers. One new campground was charging $60 a night! After much complaining and not getting as much business as they thought they would, they lowered their prices to $40 - $50. But they recently raised their rates again to $50 a night for all sites.

Military Campgrounds are no longer a benefit supported by tax dollars. They are operated the same as a private business and must show a profit to stay in business, even as part of MWR.

I did check the price of the closest civilian campground, it's $33 a night. We'll probably stay at the park off base, it's doesn't have the view, but you don't have the hassle of getting on & off base either.
Thanks for the replies

The problem I see comparing civilian to MGC prices becomes comparing apples to oranges. MGC have no 'RENT", no separate utilities (some claim they do pay into a base fund?) MCG does not need to show a profit, and much of the "work", lawns, maintenance etc is done by 'trade for site' ...

I believe this is more directly a policy of MWR to get funds up, not simply pay the MCG - I'm not interested enough to check, but I bet most of the time the actual funds the MCG collects are not directly spent by the MCG -- I'm betting the extra in the pot supports other areas of MWR ... rumor has it, golf is one of those extras.

Like Monkey said, “comparing civilian to MGC prices becomes comparing apples to oranges” for the reasons he stated, but also in large part, in my very humble opinion, for greed. I’ll use my favorite “whipping boy” FamCamp, Ellsworth AFB as an example. Rapid City/Black Hills RV parks (and hotels) typically increase their rates during Sturgis Bike Week (always the first FULL week of August – this year August 8 – 14). Soooo . . . Ellsworth has seen fit to increase their rates during what they like to call the “Prime Season” (July 1 - October 30).

Over the last couple of years, Ellsworth increased rates from $20/night to $21, then to $23. During the "Prime Season" the rate becomes $28/night! Admittedly Ellsworth has incrementally increased the number of available RV sites from 30 to 51 since 2010. Have any of you been to the RC/BH area in September/October? I have and I would most certainly not refer to it as Prime Season. Some years the weather remains relatively nice, but quite often it does not! Regarding the “pot supporting other areas of MWR”, the ever-increasing rise of MCG prices that can only be attributed to “milking the cash cow” for what they can. Most MCG are located on installation property, most are tied into the installation utility grid, and many are manned, at least in part by volunteers so overhead costs are minimal. Of course there will be startup costs (construction, etc.), but that is a cost of doing business, which will be recouped over time. I am dumbfounded by statements I hear from those that direct the MCG/MWR operations (typically civilians); “in order to remain competitive, we need to increase the price!” Excuse me, but normally remaining competitive means holding prices down, forcing the competition to do the same, or at least to not increase their prices.

Ok, I get off my soap box now. As you may have surmised, this is a touchy subject for me.

John