If you ride NY and have not sent in a letter, please do so now: see below
If you need it emailed to you, just email me at fireatak@optonline.net or info@nysnowmobilers.com
Honorable David Paterson, Governor
New York State Capitol
Albany, New York 12224 April 28, 2008
Re: Sweep of Snowmobile Trail Funds by DOB
Dear Governor Paterson:
As an avid snowmobiler and a member of a New York State Snowmobile Association Club (NYSSA), I strongly oppose the Budget Director's recent transfer of $1 million from the snowmobile trail fund to the general fund, and urge that this action be rescinded.
It has come to our attention that on March 7th or thereabouts, acting in accordance with Section 15 of Part T of Chapter 57 of the Laws of 2007, the Director of the Budget directed the State Comptroller's office to transfer $100 million in available fund balances in Miscellaneous Special Revenue accounts to the state's General Fund. As part of this transfer of these funds, $1 million was transferred from the Snowmobile Trail Development and Management Account.
As you are aware, this money comes from the registration fees paid by snowmobilers and is desperately needed for maintaining and developing the statewide trail system. Trail maintenance is an ongoing process for my club and the other 236-snowmobile clubs throughout the state that make up
the NYS Snowmobile Association (NYSSA). These volunteer clubs take on the responsibility and the financial obligation to maintain the trails throughout the year. Snowmobilers who use the trail system and are willing to pay for it but they are not willing to have their registration money taken by the Division of the Budget.
The sweep of this money undermines the credibility of the fund, violates a public trust and will devastate our ability to adequately and safely maintain the state trail system and consequently jeopardize the impact snowmobiling will have on the upstate winter economy. Contrary to the
Budget staff's calculation, everyone involved in the trail fund program knows that there are not enough registration revenues in the trail fund now to meet current trail maintenance obligations. My fellow snowmobile club members, the NYS Snowmobile Association, and all snowmobilers strongly oppose this raid on their funds.
Snowmobiling is an important component of State tourism creating much-needed jobs and generating vital revenue to many Upstate and Western New York businesses and communities. Many small businesses rely on snowmobiling for their survival and are able to sustain themselves
through the winter. According to the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, snowmobiling contributes over $875 million to the state's economy each year.
The snowmobile community looks to your continued commitment to snowmobiling, so vitally important to the economic wellbeing of many upstate communities, by seeking your help in rescinding this damaging budget sweep of the Snowmobile Trail Fund.
Sincerely,