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State Representative David Dill
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-2190
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
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Rep. Dill and Sen. Bakk pleased with success of Grant-in-Aid program
State Representative David Dill (DFL-Crane Lake) and Senator Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) were both pleased to hear that a program they initiated that benefits snowmobile clubs grooming trails in the Minnesota Grant-in-Aid program has been even more successful than anticipated.
The Grant-in-Aid program more than doubled the projected revenues last year, its first year in existence. Under this program, a snowmobile trail sticker must be purchased in order to use the Grant-in-Aid or state trails that are groomed and maintained by snowmobile clubs. Revenue from the purchase of this pass was expected to be about $1.5 million last year; actual revenue exceeded $3 million.
"This is turning out to be a great program for these clubs and the dedicated members and volunteers who build and maintain over 18 thousand miles of trails," said Dill. "The clubs receive 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the trail sticker.
Maintaining snowmobile trails for public use has become more and more difficult. Fragmentation of landownership, increased scrutiny by anti-motorized groups of trail operations, environmental compliance, cost of trail easements and permits are all part of trail operations. Maintaining snowmobile trails is a business that businesses depend on. The first year of the program allocated a 20% increase in funding for each local clubs."
Yesterday, three amendments offered by Bakk and Dill were heard in the House Environment and Natural Resources Policy Committee. All three were "housekeeping" amendments on issues needing adjustment after one years experience with the program. One amendment reversed the requirement that landowners need a permit for their own land; the second defined where the snowmobile trail sticker should go on a dealer license plate and the third dealt with antique snowmobiles.
"This is a work in process," said Bakk. "The fact that we only have these three minor adjustments to make to this program is a good indication of how well it works and how successful the past year has been."
"Some confusion over the placement, need and use of the new funds from the snowmobile trail sticker during the first winter was to be expected," said Dill. "The increase in revenue from the sticker for the non-profit clubs who maintain public snowmobile trails was desperately needed. The increasing cost of trail liability insurance, diesel fuel, the acquisition cost of grooming equipment and labor costs has put many clubs on the brink of financial crisis. The additional revenue from the program should help with these costs."
News Items
- Budget Forecast: Good news for this year, bad for the coming two Fiscal crisis in Washington creates uncertainty and concerns - (Posted: Dec 7 2012 12:00AM)
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- Rep. David Dill encourages hunters and trappers to apply for wolf license - (Posted: 2012-08-17 00:00:00)
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