User fees
Encyclopedia
People pay user fees for the use of many public services and facilities. At the federal
level in the US, there is a charge for walking to the top of the Statue of Liberty
, to drive into many National park
s, and to use particular services of the Library of Congress
.
States may charge tolls
for driving on highway
s or impose a fee on those who camp in state park
s. Communities usually have entrance fees for public swimming pool
s and meters for parking on local streets as well as perhaps even parking spaces at public beaches, dump stickers and postage stamps. While user fees are a small share of federal and state revenue, they make-up 20 percent of revenues raised in local jurisdictions.
In international development
, user fees refer to a system fees for basic health care, education, and/or other services which a developing country
implements in order to make up for the costs of these services. The International Monetary Fund
often recommends that nations start charging fees for these services in order to reduce their budget deficits.
This position by the International Monetary Fund
is more and more challenged by many who claim that user fees are the most regressive way of paying for social services. Some even argue that they should be free at the point of use.
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
level in the US, there is a charge for walking to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
, to drive into many National park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
s, and to use particular services of the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
.
States may charge tolls
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
for driving on highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s or impose a fee on those who camp in state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
s. Communities usually have entrance fees for public swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
s and meters for parking on local streets as well as perhaps even parking spaces at public beaches, dump stickers and postage stamps. While user fees are a small share of federal and state revenue, they make-up 20 percent of revenues raised in local jurisdictions.
In international development
International development
International development or global development is a concept that lacks a universally accepted definition, but it is most used in a holistic and multi-disciplinary context of human development — the development of greater quality of life for humans...
, user fees refer to a system fees for basic health care, education, and/or other services which a developing country
Developing country
A developing country, also known as a less-developed country, is a nation with a low level of material well-being. Since no single definition of the term developing country is recognized internationally, the levels of development may vary widely within so-called developing countries...
implements in order to make up for the costs of these services. The International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
often recommends that nations start charging fees for these services in order to reduce their budget deficits.
This position by the International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
is more and more challenged by many who claim that user fees are the most regressive way of paying for social services. Some even argue that they should be free at the point of use.