People had the impression that it would be imposed whether they liked it or not. Often, public benefits from the fee demonstration program were ill-defined and vague. The public was not sure how the money would be spent, or if it would be spent well. They were suspicious of overheard costs, as described above, over which they would have no control. They were also suspicious that fee programs, once entrenched, would NOT be used in the area where they originated, but would go to general operating costs of the agency.
User supported programs define their objectives specifically.
These programs also have user oversight through committees that are answerable to the group. Supporting groups feel they have some control over their user supported programs. The South Fork Fee program incorporated these objectives. In spite of repeated warnings, the demonstration fee program paid no heed to fees that different user groups had already contributed. Double-dipping is often the order of the day.