February 12, 2010 Governor David A. Paterson State Capitol Albany, NY 12224 Re: Part E, DRP 2009 Part HH, S6609/A9709 Part JJ, S6606/A9706 Dear Governor Paterson, I am writing to you about an urgent matter of great concern to the more than 150,000 members of the New York State Snowmobile Association (NYSSA) in addition to myself. As you know, your proposed Executive Budget will “sweep” $5 million dollars from the snowmobile trail development and maintenance fund into the general fund over the next several years. I am opposed to this raid of the trail fund. This unprecedented sweep, coming less than two years after a previous attempt to take $1 million during the 2008-2009 budget process, this must be stopped. The money in the trail fund is critical to support the trail maintenance activities carried out by the OPRHP and DEC, and the 239 snowmobile clubs throughout the state. Current law provides for funding from snowmobile registrations to offset snowmobile trail development and maintenance expenses borne by OPRHP and DEC, under the authority of the Commissioner of OPRHP. The law also provides for funding of the snowmobile unit at OPRHP, including personal services, salaries, benefits, travel, and other direct expenses. Trail maintenance is an ongoing process for my club, and snowmobile clubs throughout the state that make up NYSSA. These clubs take on the responsibility and the financial obligation to maintain the trails throughout the year. Snowmobilers who use the trail system are willing to pay for it but they are not willing to have our registration money taken by the Division of the Budget and used for non snowmobile related activities. I further oppose the language in Section HH of S6609/A9709 which would expand the allowable use of monies in the snowmobile trail fund to include “public safety activities,” and urge that this language be removed from the budget. By allowing snowmobile registration fees to be taken from their intended use and transferred to the general fund under the guise of public safety, while removing any accountability regarding the use of these funds, the proposed budget would result in millions more swept from the snowmobile trail fund in the years to come. In recent years, NYSSA member clubs like mine have successfully urged the Legislature to raise snowmobile registration fees in order to increase the dedicated trail monies in the snowmobile trail fund. These increases were critically needed to keep pace with ever escalating costs to safely maintain the trail system. Snowmobilers and legislators agreed to these increases because these funds were to be dedicated to reimburse snowmobile clubs to maintain the trails, and support snowmobile trail development and maintenance activities carried out by OPRHP and DEC. 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. In fact, many out-of-state snowmobilers make it a priority to visit New York for its vast miles of scenic snowmobile trails, generating much needed tourism dollars to the upstate economy. Many small businesses rely on snowmobiling for their survival and to sustain themselves through the winter. According to a recent NYSSA analysis of previous economic studies, snowmobiling contributes over $1 billion to the state’s economy each year. I would appreciate meeting with you or your staff to explain in more detail why this raid of the trail fund is not in the best interest of the public and how it will severely impact my sport and the upstate economy. Sincerely,