Thursday, June 28, 2012

OHV Budget Update - Good News and BAD News



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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