Cuts to CA OHV Program? -- May Revise Today

As HQ and OHVers brace for the release of the Governor’s May Revise today at 11 am, it will be important to watch for proposed tax increases and cuts to the CA OHV Program.


May 16 AP Article on May Revise and Budget
http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Brown-likely-to-press-for-taxes-in-budget-update-1381097.php

It will be interesting to see just how big the cuts will be to the OHV Program. My fear (which I hope is not realized, but is based on Feb. budget battle) is that we could see a proposed cut of at least 50% to the $64 million dollar a year program (SVRAs, admin. and grants). That would cut the grants program from about $27 million dollars/yr. to approx. $13 million dollars. A similar size cut to the admin/SVRA side would result in impacts to SVRAs and the agency’s ability to administer the grants program and OSV program.

Review/Blog of Feb. OHV Budget Fight (Alert because the entire program was at risk)
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2011/02/defcon-one-alert-to-ca-ohv-community.html


Of interest are the “triggers” included in some of the past loans taken (stolen) from the OHV Trust Fund that basically states -- "if budget cuts seriously impact the OHV program the borrowed funds have to be returned immediately to the Trust Fund."

HQ does not know just how solid those triggers are since the legislature can invent new rules as they see fit by simply writing a new law that exempts them from past promises.

Stay tuned over the summer months, as the temperature is sure to rise both outside and inside of the State Capitol.

Update on CA Budget Deal Later Today

The General expects to have an update later today on the new CA Budget Deal's impact to the OHV Program.

STAYING ALIVE - Update on CA Budget Battle and OHV/State Parks

As Ruth Coleman, Director of California State Parks, gave her views yesterday on the current status of the CA budget mess to the OHMVR Commission, I was reminded of the title of the famous disco song – Staying Alive.

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Photo at right: State Park Director - Ruth Coleman (2nd from Left)

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Yesterday, on behalf of the BlueRibbon Coalition, The General attended an OHMVR Commission meeting in Sacramento. The high or low point (depends on how you look at it) of the meeting was Coleman’s rather grim presentation on the potential closure of many regular state parks units and/or the gutting of her department.

She pointed out those park units which are funded through special funds (SVRAs and lakes and reservoirs), and receive no general fund dollars, appear to be safe from closing. This is because these parks are funded by the people who use them under the user pay/user benefit model. OHMVR and Boating and Waterways are two such examples.

On the other hand, she believes many non-special fund state park units could still be subject to closure if lawmakers cannot find a way to resolve the 26 billion dollar shortfall. Coleman’s Deputy for Administration told the group they had looked at raising park fees but they would have to TRIPLE entrance and camping fees to come up with the 72 million dollars they need to stay in business. However, this scenario won’t help because if fees were raised by that amount you would drive folks away from the parks (and hence decrease any potential fiscal benefit from the increase in fees) and it would functionally exclude lower income families from enjoying those facilities.

Since state park employees are not allowed to lobby for their programs, Coleman and staff kept their presentation very matter-of-fact and did not tell the OHV commission/community what to do. It is my impression reading between the lines that the operations side of the OHV Program is safe from being raided. However, the grants portion of the program (i.e. grants to FS, BLM, counties, law enforcement, etc) could still be vulnerable in future budget cycles. At this time, I think the legislature maybe hesitant to steal dedicated funds from user-pay/user-benefit programs because it sends a horrible message to the public and would kill future support for any such endeavors.

At the end of the day, I can’t tell you when this budget mess will be fixed. It could be this weekend or in 3-4 weeks. It is my impression that regular state parks must become entirely self-funded. One such option that appears to be on the table is a $15 dollar/yr. surcharge (some would call it a use-fee or tax) that would be charged on every vehicle when the owner renews their registration. An alternative could be either an Op-Out (where you have to decline to pay the fee at time of paying your renewal) or an Opt-In (where you have to accept the additional fee at time of registration). Another option could be for state parks to continue efforts to gain corporate sponsorships for some or all of the units. Also, the National Park Service could take over management of several joint state/fed units such as Redwood National and State Parks in Northern California (not a good option for recreationists and access in my opinion since the NPS has a preservationist agenda vs. the more recreation/people friendly approach).

I think riders need to continue to monitor this process and send in letters of concern to your legislators as the spirit or OHV alerts move you.

The CA budget saga continues...

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National Park Service Take Over of State Parks is Bad Idea

The General has received a number of questions from the field regarding the proposal by the National Park Service to take-over a 6 or more units of the California State Park System including the state portion of the Redwood National and State Parks in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties.

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NYT-Greenwire Story

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/07/02/02greenwire-national-park-service-threatens-takeover-of-6-98645.html

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RNP Website
http://www.nps.gov/redw/

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To some folks it may seem like a good idea. However, in my opinion it creates a number of recreation and access issues. Though some NPS units offer mostly non-motorized recreational opportunities, many NPS units manage their facilities as quasi-Wilderness areas where even non-motorized public access and use is discouraged.

For example, most of the public recreational opportunity (including hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and equestrian use) occurs on the state units of RNP. On the NPS lands, the feds appear to discourage public use via the small amount of trails available for non-motorized use, lack of staging/parking areas, onerous regulations, etc.

Also, if you think working with state parks is difficult… just try to “work” with the NPS in CA. In a late 1990s RNP plan amendment, the NPS stated in the document that their anti-access agenda would put the local commercial surf fisherman … “out of business.”

As politicians debate the budget in Sacramento, it would be my recommendation for them to look at implementing a “user-pay/user-benefit” program for regular state parks.
Those self-funding tools could include an increased entrance fee (such as a 15-20 dollar annual tag for your car, increased camping fees, etc.). What the public won’t support is an across-the-board fee for ALL vehicles regardless of if they use the park or not. Fees collected should be used for park-related on-the-ground public services.

At the end of the day, a take-over by the NPS of our state park units is unacceptable and a concept that should be rejected by lawmakers in Sacramento.

CODE RED ACTION ALERT - CA OHV Program Under New Attack

Several weeks ago, The General asked you to send in letters to lawmakers in Sacramento regarding a potential attack on the OHV Program and its Trust Fund. Many of you responded and stopped that attack cold - I salute you!

Now, there is a new threat to our OHV Program. According to sources in Sacramento, the Governor and Legislator are looking at taking money from the OHV program and diverting it to regular state parks – where there are NO OHV opportunities.

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Article on Threat
http://blogs.kqed.org/capitalnotes/2009/06/29/guvs-plan-b-deficit-fix/
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This concept of stealing money from OHV is not new. Some of you may remember the 2005 California Bureau of State Audits report that showed (among many things) that non-OHV parks were taking OHV monies.

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2005 Report (A good read for you AFTER you send in your letter today)
http://www.bsa.ca.gov/reports/summary/2004-126
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The General’s Orders for today are simple – FAX and send in letters TODAY! Tomorrow could be too late.

BRC has issued an action alert and has a sample cut and paste letter with Sac. Contact info.

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BRC ACTION ALERT
http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/?alert=1042
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You can use BRC's Rapid Response Center to Contact the Gov. or Legislators

... just type in your Zip Code

http://www.sharetrails.org/rapid_response/

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GREEN VIEW -- If you want to see the enviro's action alert regarding their support for

taking OHV Trust Funds... go to:

http://www.dpcinc.org/blog/2009/07/01/california-state-parks-still-in-danger-of-closure/

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Please fwd this note to your email lists and thanks for your service!!!

The General

If you want to see what the Gov. is saying in response to emails... ck out the note that

Olde Scott (FWMC and EOMB) got back from Arnold

From: governor@governor.ca.gov [mailto:governor@governor.ca.gov] Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 12:00 PMTo: putorius@dishmail.netSubject: Re:keeping all major state parks and svras open

Thank you for writing to me about funding for our state parks system. Yourinput is important to me during these challenging times. California's natural beauty is renowned throughout the world, and I havemade it my priority to protect our environment so future generations ofCalifornians can continue to experience and enjoy what we have all come tolove. Our state parks provide a fantastic introduction to the Californiaexperience and help bring our residents and visitors closer to ourlandscapes.Unfortunately, the state cannot continue to bear the costs of supportingevery program.

Believe me when I say that these cuts have been the hardestdecisions of my career as Governor, but we are in the midst of the greatesteconomic crisis since the Great Depression. Our revenues for the comingyear are at least 27 percent below where they were projected to be just twoshort years ago. We now face a shortfall that has grown to $24.3 billion,and the people of California have made their voice clear: they want thestate to live within its means and solve its problems through spending cutsand not tax increases. To help manage our budget shortfall, I have proposed eliminating GeneralFund support for the Department of Parks and Recreation. I understand thatthese cuts will impact not only the lives of our park employees but themillions of park visitors who visit these national treasurers every year.

In spite of these General Fund cuts, though, I will work to keep as manyparks open as possible with funding from user fees. It may require raisingentry and camping fees, expanding partnerships with local government andnon-profit groups, and seeking additional creative ways to support oursystem in the future.As I work with my partners in the Legislature to find solutions to theseproblems, know I will keep your thoughts in mind. Working together, Ibelieve we can weather this storm and start the slow but steady march backtoward prosperity.

Sincerely,Arnold Schwarzenegger

CODE RED/BROKEN ARROW ACTION ALERT - CA OHV Program at Risk

Broken Arrow – Broken Arrow – I repeat this is a Broken Arrow/Code Red action alert. The CA Senate/Assembly Budget Conference Committee is meeting today and tomorrow in which the fate of the OHV program could be decided.

As you know, the legislature already “borrowed” $90 million dollars from the OHV Trust Fund. Now, they could decide to send more money to non-OHV parks, move OHV into regular state parks, or gut the entire program.

It is up to you to make sure your voice is heard. The General has already faxed in letters to the committee chairs and his local state representative using BRC’s Action Alert posted this am:

BRC ACTION ALERT
http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/?alert=1036

In there you will find a sample letter and also a link to find your state representative’s fax number.

Do it today! Don’t let them steal our program.

Thanks for your service.

The General

California Budget Cuts - A Train Wreck in the Making

According to breaking news articles that are hitting the wire, Governor Schwarzenegger is planning to close over 200 state parks and cut 2,000 park-related jobs as a result of the current budget fiasco.

As a native Californian, The General is asking the law-makers in Sacramento,”What have you done to my state?” In my opinion, this train wreck has been coming for a number of years. I believe this “worst case scenario” as described by State Park’s spokesman, Roy Stearns, in an AP article, is a result of gluttonous spending, zealous taxation, gleeful over-regulation, and enactment of politically-motivated wacky environmental proposals by wrong minded law-makers in Sacramento -- a clear example of politicians serving themselves instead of the people.

AP Article – Statement by Roy Stearns
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g93pjBNH32Pl10TKma8epVgR39XgD98FS1OO0


It’s no wonder that many of my friends have left California for greener pastures (e.g. states with lower or no taxes, less regulations, and more freedom). If politicians don’t “get it” soon… that number of tax payers leaving the state is only going to grow as they “get the heck out of Dodge.”

Time will tell just what sort of impact the state park budget cuts will have on the OHV program. In theory, the OHV program is user-pay/user-benefit and is “protected” as a Trust Fund, but in this day and age… that may not mean much… we will see.

As the sun shines down on California today, the golden glow it used to cast upon our beautiful state has been replaced with a dark shadow that is ugly.


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