COLUMBIA - Two lawmakers threatened Thursday to block the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department's budget or force changes in it unless senior citizen admission fee discounts are restored to 50 percent.

The threats came at a meeting of the subcommittee that is reviewing the department's budget request.

Last fall, in response to state budget cuts, the department raised park admission and camping fees. The senior citizen discount was cut from 50 percent to 15 percent, causing a barrage of complaints to legislators.

"I'll do whatever I can to stop it," Sen. Jake Knotts, R-West Columbia, said of the PRT department's budget.

Director Chad Prosser said fees had to be raised to avoid cutting services or closing parks, and the agency thought that was the fairest way to do it and have fees be affordable to all residents.

Rep. Bill Sandifer, R-Seneca, said the fee change "circumvented the intent of the legislature by changing dramatically the way we treat our senior citizens in this state."

Seniors bear a disproportionate burden of the fee increase, Sandifer said.

Of the $1.3 million in additional money the increase brought in, $977,000 of it came from senior citizens.

"I simply think that's unconscionable," Sandifer said.

At the popular Oconee State Park in his district, the new fee "levies $92,661 on my senior citizens," he said.

He is circulating a bill that will force the senior fee to a 35 percent discount.

"I am ready to do battle on this thing, I think it is wrong," Sandifer said.

But some members of the subcommittee did not completely agree.

Rep. Herb Kirsh, D-Clover, said some seniors have enough income to afford the park fees. Rep. Teddy Trotter, R-Pickens, said the camping fees are still lower than what private campgrounds charge.

Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Cooper, R-Piedmont, told Prosser the panel sympathizes with what he is trying to do and suggested he try to make peace with Knotts and Sandifer.

Prosser asked to keep the fees in place for this year while the agency studies their impact. The PRT department also is looking at other adjustments, such as charging more for campers who use motor homes and less for those in tents.

The issue is finding ways to run the parks, Prosser said. Only 10 of the 46 parks gather enough revenue to pay for themselves.

They are supported by heavily-used facilities such as Myrtle Beach State Park and Huntington Beach State Park.

The panel will recommend a budget to the full Ways and Means Committee by Feb. 3.