 7/10/08 Update.
Million Dollar Sweep of Trail Fund
Attention NYSSA Members:
I have had the privilege of working very closely with the NYSSA leadership
team over the past several months to respond to the snowmobile trail fund
budget situation. Through these efforts, and with the partnership of the NYS
legislature, we have been successful in communicating our concerns to state
officials representing OPRHP, the Division of Budget (DOB) and the office of
the governor. In response to these discussions, the governor's press release
highlights 3 key actions:
- The NYS snowmobile trail grants process will be revised to ensure
that in the future, snowmobile registration fees will be spent solely on
trail maintenance and related activities.
- The DOB and OPRHP have projected that grant payments to clubs will
increase from $2.8 million in 2007-2008 to $5.3 million in 2008-2009. This
represents an 85% increase in funding to the clubs.
- Over the next three seasons, the governor has directed that $1
million from OPRP and DEC snowmobile trail funding be diverted into the
snowmobile trail development and maintenance fund.
The governor himself has characterized these actions as a "big win for NY
snowmobilers", and I could not agree more. Your elected officials,
representatives of state agencies, and NYSSA leadership have all worked
together to improve the state of snowmobiling in New York. This partnership
is important. We are successful because NYSSA and its members spoke with one
voice when addressing the NYS budget process to our elected leaders.
Let us not forget to thank those who have partnered with us and helped us to
protect and improve snowmobiling in New York State. I ask you to join me in
thanking our advocates in the Capitol Group: Nick Barella, Tim Sheridan and
Bruce Geiger. Without their relationships with key individuals in Albany,
and their complete grasp of the processes and inner workings on the
government of NY, we would not have come out on top. Rory Whelan of Whelan
Media Strategies, our public relations and media strategist, has provided
invaluable counsel and is also deserving of our gratitude. I also want to
personally thank Jim Jennings and Dave Perkins, NYSSA executive director and
trails coordinator, and Gary Broderick, NYSSA vice-president, for their role
in helping lead us forward.
What should not be lost in our discussions, however, is to make sure that we
thank the snowmobilers of New York. It is truly because of their dedication
to the issues we face, and the tremendous grass-roots efforts in contacting
their elected leaders, that we have succeeded. It is the 100,000
snowmobilers who participate in our sport, and who are responsible for the
$1 billion economic engine that is New York snowmobiling that are most
deserving of our gratitude. As we move ahead we must take the opportunity to
thank the club members and their families who took the time to make their
voice heard in Albany.
Therefore, on behalf of the NYSSA leadership and partners, thank you all for
your consideration, concern, support, and hard work.
With congratulations and warm regards,
Mike Fischer
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- 6/23/08
