CA Governor Not To Use OHV Trust Funds for Non-OHV State Parks
BAKERSFIELD, CA - California State Parks has said that because of a severe budget shortfall, over 200 state parks will need to close. Until now, there was no suggestion of removing funds that support the State Vehicular Recreation Areas (SVRAs) and the other local and federal areas that depend on support from the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) trust fund to remain in operation. Yesterday, the Administration announced that Governor would veto the Vehicle License Fee and that funds to keep State Parks open will be found elsewhere.
Send the Governor’s office a clear message that raiding the OHV trust fund is not acceptable. California’s OHV Program is a nationwide model because it is funded solely by users and helps manage OHV recreation statewide. Raiding the trust fund will result in the loss of OHV opportunity and management on millions of acres of county and federal lands. This means the elimination or reduction of trail maintenance, law enforcement and resource protection activities statewide.
Earlier this year the OHV trust fund was raided by the Legislature to lend the general fund $90 million that had been set aside for acquiring new properties. And now after that money has been sacrificed to the current budget crisis, the OHV community in California is being asked to give more! Below you will find a template letter that can be personalized and faxed or e-mailed to the Governor. His fax number is 916-558-3160 or e-mail him at governor@governor.ca.gov
This template letter can also be found on the AMA D37 message board at http://www.district37ama.org/forums/ in both the off-road and dual sport forums. Together the OHV community can make a difference!
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:
It is my understanding the state is looking for funds to operate non-OHV State Parks. Raiding the OHV trust fund is not an acceptable alternative. California’s OHV Program is a nationwide model because it is funded solely by users and helps manage OHV recreation statewide. Raiding the trust fund will result in the loss of OHV opportunity and management statewide. This means the elimination or reduction of trail maintenance, law enforcement and resource protection activities.
I strongly urge you to reject any proposal to use OHV trust fund dollars to fund activities that have no relationship to the source of the funds that have been raised. As pointed out on the recent Bureau of State Audits (BSA) Audit, it is wrong that funds that I pay while engaging in OHV recreation could be diverted to support places like Angel Island State Park.
In 1971, the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) community agreed not use general fund dollars to operate and maintain their system of recreation areas. Instead, the OHV recreating public chose a pay to play system. The OHV Division of California State Parks is funded exclusively by taxes paid on gasoline used recreating off-highway, green and red sticker registration fees and entrance fees to the State Vehicular Recreation Areas (SVRA’s). This State should attempt to emulate the success of the OHV program in order to properly fund other non OHV State Parks that are in need of operating funds.
Earlier this year the OHV trust fund was raided by the Legislature to lend the general fund $90 million that had been set aside for acquiring new properties. And now after that money has been sacrificed to the current budget crisis, the OHV community in California is being asked to give more! This is an example of government gone wrong. Why destroy a successful, nationwide model which funds itself.
Sincerely,
Your name
& address
