The commission shall annually request such appropriations as it deems necessary to carry out the activities of the commission and the advisory board. Funding for management of areas and features that become War Between the States Heritage Preserves must be specifically requested by the commission or that entity of government responsible for management thereof.

The commission shall select those War Between the States Heritage Preserves for which it is appropriate to charge an individual user fee. The commission may sell such user permits for a cost not to exceed five dollars and to be valid for the fiscal year in which issued at all War Between the States Heritage Preserves where a permit is required. At the end of the fiscal year, the commission shall distribute the funds collected among the entities of government assigned responsibility for management in direct proportion to the acreage which they manage. The proceeds of the sale of the user permits must be used to defray the management expenses.