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BILL THAT WOULD HAVE RAISED SNOWMACHINE FEES DIES

Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 7:43 pm
by john
A bill that would have raised registration fees for snowmachines (HB 319) did not make it out of the House of Representatives before the end of the session. The bill would have raised registration fees on snowmachines from the current $5 per year/ $10 for two years to $20 per year. Snowmobile registration fees currently pay for the Snowmobile Trails Program, which funds grooming and trail improvements for snowmachine trails (which are used by many other trail users). The bill had the support of snowmachine groups. However, the bill was not included in Gov. Bill Walker’s list of bills for the special session.

See the bill here: http://www.akleg.gov/PDF/29/Bills/HB0319A.PDF

See the bill’s progress here: http://tinyurl.com/jnm5nmb

See Gov. Walker’s special session proclamation here: http://tinyurl.com/zxz5b

Re: BILL THAT WOULD HAVE RAISED SNOWMACHINE FEES DIES

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2016 6:28 pm
by mit
May it rest at the bottom of the Bering Sea! :devil:

Re: BILL THAT WOULD HAVE RAISED SNOWMACHINE FEES DIES

Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 11:18 am
by TheBearAk
If we could be assured that at least 80% of the money was actually going to trails, I would be all for it. My fear would be that 80% would go to administration and 10% would go to "special projects", leaving just 10% for trails.

$20 per year for trail upkeep? Sure, I wouldn't mind. I pay more than that just to clear my own.


Given the number of registrations they show... 5900 for Fairbanks, 8400 for Anchorage. I would bet those only account for around 40% of the snowmobiles in those two cities. Heck, we get 8000-9000 at Arctic Man every year.

Re: BILL THAT WOULD HAVE RAISED SNOWMACHINE FEES DIES

Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2016 8:09 am
by john
What bothers me is the disbursement of the funds. The title SnoTrack to insinuate that this is for snow machine trails is misleading.

SnoTrack funds, fund Non-Motorized trails, about 60% goes to non-motorized, additionally, they fund State Park trails. Trails that should be maintained under the State Parks budget. So Alaska DNR Parks (who manages the grants) is giving grants to Alaska DNR Parks, anyone else see a conflict of interest here.

If the funds only went to Snow Machine usable trails and not DNR entities as well, I might be more agreeable to supporting an increase. But why should we pay for trails we're not suppose to use and to cover the cost of gov't overhead expenses from our registration fee.

And last, the grant guidelines also require the grantee to pay up front. So we could get a grant for $25,000.00, so long as we had the $25,000.00 to put up first and get reimbursed whenever DNR got around to it.

Re: BILL THAT WOULD HAVE RAISED SNOWMACHINE FEES DIES

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2016 9:38 am
by Darrell
from Facebook

Big Lake Trails, Inc.
13 hrs ·

There will be little, if any money to maintain trails this coming season. Today, the Governor vetoed all SnowTRAC funding to groom and sign trails. This will mean the end of the SnowTRAC program for all trail groups, in all areas of the State.
Hopefully the Legislature will be able to reverse the Governor's veto. If not, I'm sure each trail group will do the best they can with no funding. More important than ever, please support your local trail organization.

Re: BILL THAT WOULD HAVE RAISED SNOWMACHINE FEES DIES

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2016 4:56 pm
by larry morris
Now, I am officially with Tim "snow machine registration needs to go away"

Re: BILL THAT WOULD HAVE RAISED SNOWMACHINE FEES DIES

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 2:37 pm
by TheBearAk
I think so, if the funds are not going to trails, then the registration needs to go away.

What was the states allotment of the funds in previous years? $$ amount.

I'm wondering if it could be raised in other ways. GoFundMe type thing.

Re: BILL THAT WOULD HAVE RAISED SNOWMACHINE FEES DIES

Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 9:43 pm
by mit
Yea, keep the money in the general fund! I talked to him about this very thing before he was elected.

Re: BILL THAT WOULD HAVE RAISED SNOWMACHINE FEES DIES

Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 9:45 pm
by mit
TheBearAk wrote:I think so, if the funds are not going to trails, then the registration needs to go away.

What was the states allotment of the funds in previous years? $$ amount.

I'm wondering if it could be raised in other ways. GoFundMe type thing.
if so the money bags in South Central that have been sucking up cheap gas at the expense of the rest of the state can put their money into it!!!!!!! :devilsmile:

Re: BILL THAT WOULD HAVE RAISED SNOWMACHINE FEES DIES

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2016 8:47 am
by Darrell
From Facebook today !!

Big Lake Trails, Inc.
8 hrs ·

There MAY be a glimmer of hope. The Governor and several Legislators attended the Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting this evening. Having previously written the Governor and staff about SnowTRAC funding, he was familar with the strong case to fund this program. I briefly restated the need for the program, how it was funded and the benefits and asked if there was any plan to reinstate funding in time for our August grant cycle. The Governor indicated that they were working on reinstating the funds but that the program may be structured differently. He did not elaborate on that. Later, I was able to speak with him for a moment and offered my assistance in working through any revamping of the program. He indicated that he would be in contact with me.

I also had the opportunity to speak with a few of the Legislators who indicated they may be able to put together something in support of SnowTRAC if I did not hear something from the Governor soon.

The best that can be said at this time is that this is a work in progress and there may still be hope.

I am grateful for Governor Walker's further consideration. I am also grateful to the Mat-Su Legislators who showed up at this meeting and have shown interest in keeping SnowTRAC funded. Many thanks to Senator Dunleavy, Representative Gattis, Representative Tilton, Representative Keller, and Representative Hughes.

Re: BILL THAT WOULD HAVE RAISED SNOWMACHINE FEES DIES

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2016 10:39 pm
by mit
Darrell wrote:From Facebook today !!

Big Lake Trails, Inc.
8 hrs ·

There MAY be a glimmer of hope. The Governor and several Legislators attended the Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting this evening. Having previously written the Governor and staff about SnowTRAC funding, he was familar with the strong case to fund this program. I briefly restated the need for the program, how it was funded and the benefits and asked if there was any plan to reinstate funding in time for our August grant cycle. The Governor indicated that they were working on reinstating the funds but that the program may be structured differently. He did not elaborate on that. Later, I was able to speak with him for a moment and offered my assistance in working through any revamping of the program. He indicated that he would be in contact with me.

I also had the opportunity to speak with a few of the Legislators who indicated they may be able to put together something in support of SnowTRAC if I did not hear something from the Governor soon.

The best that can be said at this time is that this is a work in progress and there may still be hope.

I am grateful for Governor Walker's further consideration. I am also grateful to the Mat-Su Legislators who showed up at this meeting and have shown interest in keeping SnowTRAC funded. Many thanks to Senator Dunleavy, Representative Gattis, Representative Tilton, Representative Keller, and Representative Hughes.


Who is making this statement? Another somebody that claims to represent all snowmachine owners!