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The University of Wyoming is mailing out survey's now, you may have received one yesterday? They are mailing out 1,000 to WY resident's and 1,000 to non-residents. If you receive one, please fill it out. Here is a letter explaining the survey:
Your Input Needed for Snowmobile Program Funding Plan
The Wyoming State Snowmobile Program is facing serious funding issues which must be addressed within the next year. I have been working with the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, the State Trails Advisory Council, and WSSA over the past year to develop a new long-term plan; the next step is to put together proposals that will consider reductions in spending along with an increase in snowmobile fees to help make the Snowmobile Program sustainable going forward.
Over the past several years total snowmobile permit sales have decreased by about 8,000 resident/nonresident/commercial permits per year when compared to peak sales numbers back in 2003. This means that revenues are down by well over $300,000 per year while costs and grooming budgets have continued to increase. Additionally the Snowmobile Program has been receiving $400,000 to $700,000 per year in RTP grant funds, which comes from the federal gas tax paid on the fuel used in off-road vehicles like snowmobiles, for nearly 20 years; however the RTP program has expired and is unlikely to be extended by Congress. The bottom line is that a revenue shortfall of at least $400,000 – and potentially up to $700,000 to $1 million per year if RTP is not reauthorized – must be addressed since the Snowmobile Program must be self-supporting moving forward.
Between now and July 1 we will be developing several budget reduction scenarios. This will include identifying what budget reductions of $100,000, $200,000, $300,000, $400,000 and potentially up to $700,000 would look like on the ground, i.e. what areas and trails would no longer be groomed, what services would be reduced, what services would be totally eliminated, etc. While nobody wants to or is proposing today to make deep cuts, we need to know exactly what the Snowmobile Program would look like going forward if it comes to that. Most importantly, we need to know your thoughts on what costs and reduction in services you’d suggest or support. The other piece we’ll be working on is to identify if considering a snowmobile fee increase may be reasonable and supported by Wyoming snowmobilers. While no one is proposing any fee increase at this time, it will be difficult to address the overall funding issue without some increase in fees. To fully address the shortfall without making any cuts in grooming and other services would require increasing the annual fee to $60 or more – and I don’t believe anyone wants to see that happen. At the same time a fee increase of only $10 – from $25 to $35 – probably would not be sufficient without having to also make deep cuts in the Snowmobile Program’s
operating budget. A $20 increase – from $25 to $45 per year – would likely still require some cuts in services but perhaps help balance deep cuts with a mid-range fee increase. Again, we need your input as to what level, if any, fee increase may be acceptable to help keep Wyoming snowmobiling opportunities available and properly managed. If there is support for any fee increase, it will be packaged for consideration by the 2013 Wyoming Legislature; consequently July 1, 2013 is the earliest any fee increase could become effective.
As one part of this information gathering and planning exercise, the University of Wyoming will be mailing surveys to 1,000 resident and 1,000 non-resident snowmobilers around the end of March. If you receive one of these surveys in the coming weeks, PLEASE take the time to respond to the detailed questions and give us your feedback about future priorities for snowmobiling access and trails in Wyoming. This survey will be used to help gauge opinions about potential cuts in service as well as support or opposition to any potential fee increase.
I also invite you to contact me directly to express your ideas and opinions about what should be considered when the different levels of budget cut scenarios are developed; be assured absolutely everything is on the table and nothing is sacred or immune from potential cuts. I also want your thoughts and opinions about the need and appropriate levels for any fee increase. All input will be compiled to help the Department, Trails Council and WSSA develop a plan to take forward through the legislative process. Also be assured that all feedback I
receive will be grouped so individual responses remain confidential.
Please send your input to Trailswork@aol.com or fax written comments to 605-371-2262 by May 1. If you have questions about this planning process, also feel free to give me a call at 605-371-9799 or 605-212-9403.
I look forward to your feedback and thank you for your participation in this important planning process.
Sincerely,
Kim Raap, Trails Work Consulting
http://wyotrails.state.wy.us/press/InputNeededforSnowmobilePlan.pdf
Your Input Needed for Snowmobile Program Funding Plan
The Wyoming State Snowmobile Program is facing serious funding issues which must be addressed within the next year. I have been working with the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, the State Trails Advisory Council, and WSSA over the past year to develop a new long-term plan; the next step is to put together proposals that will consider reductions in spending along with an increase in snowmobile fees to help make the Snowmobile Program sustainable going forward.
Over the past several years total snowmobile permit sales have decreased by about 8,000 resident/nonresident/commercial permits per year when compared to peak sales numbers back in 2003. This means that revenues are down by well over $300,000 per year while costs and grooming budgets have continued to increase. Additionally the Snowmobile Program has been receiving $400,000 to $700,000 per year in RTP grant funds, which comes from the federal gas tax paid on the fuel used in off-road vehicles like snowmobiles, for nearly 20 years; however the RTP program has expired and is unlikely to be extended by Congress. The bottom line is that a revenue shortfall of at least $400,000 – and potentially up to $700,000 to $1 million per year if RTP is not reauthorized – must be addressed since the Snowmobile Program must be self-supporting moving forward.
Between now and July 1 we will be developing several budget reduction scenarios. This will include identifying what budget reductions of $100,000, $200,000, $300,000, $400,000 and potentially up to $700,000 would look like on the ground, i.e. what areas and trails would no longer be groomed, what services would be reduced, what services would be totally eliminated, etc. While nobody wants to or is proposing today to make deep cuts, we need to know exactly what the Snowmobile Program would look like going forward if it comes to that. Most importantly, we need to know your thoughts on what costs and reduction in services you’d suggest or support. The other piece we’ll be working on is to identify if considering a snowmobile fee increase may be reasonable and supported by Wyoming snowmobilers. While no one is proposing any fee increase at this time, it will be difficult to address the overall funding issue without some increase in fees. To fully address the shortfall without making any cuts in grooming and other services would require increasing the annual fee to $60 or more – and I don’t believe anyone wants to see that happen. At the same time a fee increase of only $10 – from $25 to $35 – probably would not be sufficient without having to also make deep cuts in the Snowmobile Program’s
operating budget. A $20 increase – from $25 to $45 per year – would likely still require some cuts in services but perhaps help balance deep cuts with a mid-range fee increase. Again, we need your input as to what level, if any, fee increase may be acceptable to help keep Wyoming snowmobiling opportunities available and properly managed. If there is support for any fee increase, it will be packaged for consideration by the 2013 Wyoming Legislature; consequently July 1, 2013 is the earliest any fee increase could become effective.
As one part of this information gathering and planning exercise, the University of Wyoming will be mailing surveys to 1,000 resident and 1,000 non-resident snowmobilers around the end of March. If you receive one of these surveys in the coming weeks, PLEASE take the time to respond to the detailed questions and give us your feedback about future priorities for snowmobiling access and trails in Wyoming. This survey will be used to help gauge opinions about potential cuts in service as well as support or opposition to any potential fee increase.
I also invite you to contact me directly to express your ideas and opinions about what should be considered when the different levels of budget cut scenarios are developed; be assured absolutely everything is on the table and nothing is sacred or immune from potential cuts. I also want your thoughts and opinions about the need and appropriate levels for any fee increase. All input will be compiled to help the Department, Trails Council and WSSA develop a plan to take forward through the legislative process. Also be assured that all feedback I
receive will be grouped so individual responses remain confidential.
Please send your input to Trailswork@aol.com or fax written comments to 605-371-2262 by May 1. If you have questions about this planning process, also feel free to give me a call at 605-371-9799 or 605-212-9403.
I look forward to your feedback and thank you for your participation in this important planning process.
Sincerely,
Kim Raap, Trails Work Consulting
http://wyotrails.state.wy.us/press/InputNeededforSnowmobilePlan.pdf
