No surprise when "bean-counters" attempt to reduce the budget.
Think of it this way ... as if you are a federal bean-counter.
Say the MRW budget is an imaginary $1,000,000 ... and it costs $100,000 to run the MWR campgrounds, even tho MCG actually makes $125,000 in fees.
The beancounter says, we can charge a vendor $25,000 to operate the MCGs.
So, feds place the contract. The bean-counter can then say, we reduced the budget by $100,000, and we still make the $25,000 fee.
What's wrong with this picture? The contractor raises the camping fees, and the campers pay more for this "benefit", often as much as civilian private campgrounds. And, so we campers pay higher fees, which is in a sense the same as higher taxes or a reduction in retired or AD pay.
But, remember, the fed bean-counter can claim a reduction in budget.
Who loses - we do, the campers that use the "MCG benefit". And soon enough, even tho the vendor pays no rent, no utilities, no water, no security, and has volunteer support staff, the vendor claims it must compete with the private local prices to stay in business ... Hogwash at best, and BS at worst.
Vnedors have already taken contracts in some national park and forest campgrounds. And often, the Access Pass for half-price camping and free entrance is now getting challenged by the vendors that have the contracts. So far, the vendors are losing that battle, but for how long? And the America Annual Pass has gone from $10 to $80 per year.
