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The cost of camping at Oconee County Parks will likely go up when the new county budget is approved. County officials say higher fees are needed to offset increased costs.

SENECA — If you’re planning on spending any part of your Memorial Day weekend at an Oconee County park, enjoy yourself and enjoy the price because the latter will soon go up.

Oconee County Council members spent a good portion of their Tuesday meeting pouring over the details of a new fee schedule for the county’s three parks. The fees will not be in place for this weekend, but apparently will take effect with the new fiscal year. County Administrator Dale Surrett said the changes are being made to help offset increasing costs.

As outlined, camping fees for county residents will likely go up from $17 to $20 a day for lakeside camp sites, while staying at $15 for interior sites. Nonresident fees are expected to climb from $17 and $20, respectively, to $19 and $25. Surrett is also recommending the elimination of all senior and disability discounts.

Admission fees, which are now collected at a rate of $2 per car, per day, on weekends only, will likely stay the same but be collected year-round. Surrett had recommended going to $2 per person, year-round, but Councilman Tommy Crumpton led a campaign to keep the fee the same.

“With gas prices being what they are, a lot more people are going to be staying in the county this year,” Crumpton said.

Fees will also go up for facilities and amenity usage. Currently the recreation building at South Cover Park rents for $35 per half-day for small groups with the scale going up for larger groups, topping out at $110. Surrett suggested going to $100 for all groups up to 100 people, but council members again recommended $50 for groups up to 50 people and then $100 and up.

Surrett has recommended that, when reservations are made, for tennis, volleyball courts and softball fields, there be a charge of $5 per hour (now $2). Horseshoes will cost $3 to rent (now 50 cents) and miniature golf will cost $3 (now $1).

Surrett also recommended that the county charge a $5 launching fee. Council members questioned whether Duke Energy would allow that. Surrett argued that maintaining the launch sites and parking lots costs money and said perhaps the charge would have to be for parking.

“This may all sound petty, but a little here and a little there, it takes the edge off the costs of operating,” Surrett said.

One council member questioned whether it would look like the county was “nickel and diming” its park users.

Surrett and County Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director Phil Shirley said the new fees would bring the county in line with state parks and other county park systems.

Budget Committee members did approve an additional $22,500 in the proposed budget for park security. In a related matter Tuesday, council members approved transferring funds to cover overtime in the sheriff’s department and detention center. Surrett said the county spent $8,000 in overtime patrolling parks during the first quarter of the year. He said another $6,000 would likely be spent for park security before the end of this fiscal year on June 30.