States pass fee increases, New Hampshire rolls back fees

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There is a national trend of state government's increasing fees. However, the opposite is happening in New Hampshire where fees are being rolled back.

No doubt, without the help of liberty loving people that moved to NH, some of these roll backs wouldn't be possible.

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/17/3985421/a-backlash-against-rising-state.html

In New Hampshire, a legislature taken over by Republicans this year slashed most fee increases enacted since 2007. For example, the cost of a marriage license dropped from $50 back down to $45, and the cost of a saltwater fishing license slid from $15 to $10 for state residents. Businesses saw fees drop, as well. Renewal fees for meals and rooms operator licenses were eliminated. And pet stores will now pay $150 less for their initial licenses and renewal, dropping from $350 to $200.

The fee reductions took effect in September and are projected to cost the state $5.7 million for fiscal year 2012. That's roughly 0.1 percent of the state's budget. The moves came at a time when the state's overall budget was reduced by 11 percent, resulting in significant cuts to social services and highway repairs, as well as layoffs for government employees.

On the other hand, in the rest of the country,

According to annual fiscal surveys by the National Association of State Budget Officers and the National Governors Association, new fees enacted for fiscal year 2010 amounted to more than $5 billion. By fiscal 2011, the amount had dropped to $1.2 billion. For fiscal 2012, governors proposed $1.3 billion in fee increases; data on the enacted amount have not yet been released.

For example,

A sampling of fees that states have increased in the past year:

-Colorado increased the price of an annual parks pass from $60 to $70, and a lifetime pass from $175 to $300.

-Maryland doubled the fee to receive a copy of a birth certificate from $12 to $24.

-Rhode Island increased the price for parking at state beaches from $6 to $10 on weekdays and from $7 to $14 on weekends and holidays.

-Montana raised the price of an elk hunting license for nonresidents from $593 to $812.

-Ohio raised the financial disclosure filing fee for people running for state elected office from $65 to $95.

-Hawaii increased a rental car surcharge from $3 per day to $7.50 per day.

-Oregon doubled the annual application fee for the medical use of marijuana from $100 to $200.