BEREA, Ohio -- Despite opposition and a suggested rate freeze, bus operators and other users will see a 10 percent increase in tolls on the Ohio Turnpike come the New Year.

Turnpike Commission Chairman Jerry Hruby says the increase is necessary.

The previous chairman, Joseph Balog, said in June that rates should be held steady next year for holders of the E-ZPass electronic toll system to give users a break during a tough economy.

Balogs idea, however, did not prevail.

Cross-state rates for three-axle motorcoaches using E-ZPass will increase from $18 to $20. Rates for users without E-Z-Pass will go from $25 to $28.

Meanwhile, the Obama Administration has reversed an earlier decision to provide $1.5 million to Ohio to study the economic benefits of privatizing the Ohio Turnpike.

The Federal Highway Administration cut off federal money just three days after five Ohio Democratic members of Congress called the study "a questionable use of federal taxpayer dollars."

In a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood the group warned that leasing the turnpike to a private-sector concern could lead to higher tolls and the possible loss of 1,000 jobs.

The federal money was apparently revoked in response to that letter.

The decision by the Obama Administration came as a setback to Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, who has considered the possibility of leasing the turnpike to private companies for as much as $3 billion. He'd like to lease the turnpike for 30 years and use the money to fix other roads.

The Ohio Department of Transportation blamed the turnabout on politics, which the Federal Highway Administration denied.

A group of 10 Republican members of the U.S. House have written to LaHood asking him to honor his decision to let Ohio use federal funds to study Ohio Turnpike options.

"ODOT got the approval necessary to use these funds to study what's in the state's best interest regarding the future of the Ohio turnpike. This funding was not to to study possible privatization of the turnpike, but rather to look at all options," said Rep. Steven LaTourette.

"ODOT played by the rules and was granted permission from the administration to use the funding. Unfortunately, Secretary LaHood caved after a few Democrats complained, making him for the Ohio Turnpike study before he was against it," LaTourette said.