Suffolk lawmakers move to cut county beach, golf fees

Reacting to state park shutdowns and fee hikes, Suffolk lawmakers Wednesday took the first step toward cutting county beach and golf fees by $1 to help struggling middle-class taxpayers this summer.

The parks committee voted 4-1 to reduce fees, even though budget aides estimated that the county - already facing a $150-million 2011 budget shortfall - could lose $247,000 to $300,000 in park revenue. A vote could come at Tuesday's legislature meeting.

However, sponsor Legis. Thomas Barraga (R-West Islip) said the lower fees and a marketing campaign could spark far more Suffolk residents to use county parks, offsetting the revenue losses.

"I'm not prone to put in a resolution to reduce revenues to the county," said Barraga, a staunch fiscal conservative. But he felt the county should help families when the state is raising park fees 15 percent to 25 percent. With parking fees at Jones Beach going from $8 to $10, he said, "it could eliminate a lot of families' trips to the beach."

Barraga's proposal would lower beach parking fees from $5 to $4 and cut the golf fees from $25 to $24 on weekdays and $27 to $26 on weekends.

County Executive Steve Levy took no immediate position on Barraga's proposal, and a spokesman said he is evaluating whether the measure complies with county law requiring any revenue reductions to be accompanied by spending cuts.

Parks Commissioner John Pavasic cautioned that park use is largely weather-driven and has been "fairly constant" in the past. He added that higher gas prices may be a larger factor for western Suffolk residents, who now go to Robert Moses State Park beach and may be unwilling to go to Suffolk's three East End beaches: Smith Point, Cupsogue or Meschutt.

Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) questioned whether the county's four golf courses, which already run near capacity, could produce much more revenue. "I'd love to lower fees; you just have to show me how we can do it responsibly," he said.

Even without Barraga's proposal, park fees are already dropping this year because a 2009 hike - averaging 16 percent - to help the ailing Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport was allowed to lapse at year's end. Only the county's $5 beach parking fee went unchanged. Golf fees last year were $28 on weekdays and $30 on weekends. "We may already be the cheapest one on the block," Lindsay said.

Parks Committee chair Legis. Lynne Nowick (R-St. James) said the county should promote lower park fees regardless of whether Barraga's proposal passes. But she said she supported the $1 cut because it "may mean something to people who take their families to the beach three or four times a week."