HQ Views on the CA Budget
The California Governor’s budget includes the proposal
championed by the California Parks Foundation,
environmental activists, and
their supporters in government to gut the OHV-related local assistance grants federal agencies, local parks, county
sheriffs, and conservation projects.
Although the Governor reduced the proposed transfer from
$21 million dollars to $7 million dollars of OHV-related off-road fuel tax from
the Motor Vehicle Fuel Account, he did not have the authority to override the legislature’s
$10 million dollar grant limit. Numerous economically depressed rural counties had
asked him to leave the OHV grants program intact. Rural areas often have highly popular
destination OHV recreation areas managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of
Land Management. Those units depend on
the 40 year partnership with the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor
Vehicle Recreation Division’s local grants program to help support recreation
staff, maintain trails, restore damaged areas, and pay for law enforcement.
For almost 25 years a few extreme anti-OHV activists have
worked to destroy the CA OHV Program with a special focus on banning grants to
the Forest Service and BLM which provide most of the OHV recreational
opportunity in the state. It now appears
they have succeeded.
The CA OHV Program was once regarded as a national model
on how to manage environmentally responsible motorized recreation on public
lands. It now appears that it has become
a poker chip in a high stakes political game between Democrats and Republicans.
Here is final veto message
The original
proposal as passed by the legislature:
•
Provided a total of $41 million in new funding to state parks and changed the
purpose of $13 million in proposed bond expenditures.
• $21
million in Motor Vehicle Fuel Account
• $10
million in Alternative and Renewable Fuel Technology Fund (CEC AB 118 program)
• $10
million in State Water Pollution Control revolving Fund
$41 million TOTAL
PLUS
$13 million in
bond money redirected to Parks for capital improvements
The VETO reduced the proposal as follows:
• $7
million in Motor Vehicle Fuel Account
• $3
million in and Renewable Fuel Technology Fund (CEC AB 118 program)
• $0
million in State Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund (determined to violate
the state/federal agreement)
$10 million TOTAL
PLUS
$13 million in
bond money redirected to Parks for capital improvements (to increase park
revenues)
HQ believes we could very well see this attack on the OHV
grants program for several years. Thanks
to all of you who sent letters including Humboldt County and the OHV
commission.
OHMVR Commission Letter to Gov. Brown
Humboldt County Letter
Hang in there!
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