The Growth of Federal User Charges


Book Description

User charges have for some time, and especially in recent years, played an important role in financing federal programs. In 1991, user charges -- such as passport fees, national park entrance fees, and gasoline excise taxes -- amounted to nearly $120 billion and were the sole source of financing for some programs. This study documents the growth of user charges since 1980 and analyzes the economic and legal issues they have raised over the years as well as the more recent effects of changes in law and budget processes. Also assesses the potential for the growth of user charges. Charts, tables and drawings.







Budget Options


Book Description




Federal User Fees


Book Description

Fed. gov¿t policymakers are interested in user fees as a means of financing new and existing services. User fees can be designed to reduce the burden on taxpayers to finance the portions of activities that provide benefits to identifiable users above and beyond what is normally provided to the public. User fees can promote economic efficiency and equity. However user fees must be well designed. This report studies how user fee design characteristics may influence the effectiveness of user fees. The author examined how the 4 key design and implementation characteristics of user fees -- how fees are set, collected, used, and reviewed -- may affect the economic efficiency, equity, revenue adequacy, and administrative burden of cost-based fees.