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.

The federal government spent nearly $1.6 billion in FY1995 to provide food-related services, such as inspecting, testing, grading, & approving agricultural commodities & products. This report identifies & evaluates opportunities to increase the share of funding by beneficiaries for food-related services provided by the federal government. It identifies (1) the types of food-related services provided by federal agencies; (2) the extent to which beneficiaries currently pay for such services through user fees; & (3) potential opportunities for recovering more of the service costs through user fees, as well as arguments for & against doing so.