Venting....plows and why we pay taxes

[Ultralord]

It is NOT a blue versus red issue, so please stop the slurs. Majority rules, right? Sledders are NOT a majority of the voters in any way.

Idaho is solid RED and stole their ATV funds to put in the general fund just like Washington did with putting ours into the parks budget.

It is about those in office, regardless of political affiliation having to prioritize. Sorry to say snowmobiling and ATV'ing are lower than education and law enforcement.

I wait to hear the argument for sledding and ATV'ing versus police and schools.

Besides do you want then clearing now and then run out of funds in the middle of the REAL good sledding season. I say let them skip November and have the funds for when the snow is REALLY coming down and we have a good base.

I think you are missing the point we want to pay for our sport we want them to collect what they need to handle the job but your right its not blue or red just the inability to act or lead

 

[STAFFORDIRT]

snowplowing for I-90

To all, Technically our snowmobile registration money doesn not "kick " in till December. Most of the roads are closed to snowmobiles unless the forest service puts up the "NO WHEELED VEHICLES " signs and close the roads. We did get early snow this year so I dont think they are messing with anybody at this time. I can tell you in the Stampede, Easton , Crystal Springs area's we probably will not start grooming till the 2nd week in December. With the low sled registrations last year all the groomers had to take a "pay cut" for the 3rd year in a row. It's a 16 week program but we've decided to make it a 15 week and try and do a better job for what we have. Dont expect much grooming or plowing till the season officially gets going. You cant blame the govenor or obama for this, They do not get any of our sled money. Not enough people registered their sleds last year to put in sufficient money to run the full program. And on another note, Cresto did cancell the plowing contract with state parks, I believe the bid just ended and I sure hope somebody bid it. The bid was to plow 5 snoparks in the I-90 area. Here again our sled reg money came into play, not enough of it to make the plowing worth doing for a alot of contractors. Any questions let me know.

Actually due to the slow construction industry, there were actually 5 of us contractors who bid the snowplowing for the 5 snowparks Dan had mentioned.

I put in a very competitive bid, as a fellow snowmobilier and wanting to help where possible. I bid this at my cost with a couple percent of profit, just cuz I have to to stay in business, and I came out 3rd of 5 bidders. The snowplowing will be done by Rhino Excavating and Trucking out of Ravensdale. He has this for the next 5 years.

I want to point out that the snowplowing is done hourly with contractors and you are definately going to get your monies worth, as long as they are productive with their equipment, which i thing they are a good outfit. To have 3 machines dedicated to this and only get $75,000 for the work, well lets say there's not much money in it for them, so show some courtesy to these guys when you are out, and do them a favor and keep an eye on their equipment for them, the stuff is expensive, and there are loosers out there that will trash this stuff, makes me sick.

I respect you Dan for taking the time to educate us on these issues, sure there are many more who agree than dissagree with you. Keep it up.

 

[fassteddie]

thanks tim for taking the contract. ed

 

[deepdiver]

The difference is, one is a free market. The other is not... and to change a bureaucracy is clearly harder than just switching companies. So, it makes it kind of hard for free market to reign. If enough people actually hated Costco or thought it was a rip off, or whatever, and didn't shop there, they would either close or change their policies. A choice. Try doing that with your local liquor store. Doesn't matter how inefficient they might be, they can continue to do so. Yes, once your money goes into the tax system, it pretty much shrivels and is gone. What you get at the other end is 'thin air', nothing but a mockery of your earnings. Yes, I do know of what I speak...been in it, around it, giving it and receiving it.

I didn't check my spelling....again. Forgive me. But I trust you didn't have to read it three times to get the jest...

Good to go is pretty much correct.

I can see his point in the spelling/grammer dept. I dont spell check at all yet should..however there are some like G2G(goodtogo) states that are not even coherent.

Ruffyrider..as a working person with a BSEE you should understand good to gos ideals. Or are you just bored and playing the "what if" I know you havnt lived in WA for very long and in time you will understand the BS this state goes thru time and time again. For being one of the top ten highest taxed states in the nation it is odd we have less funds to utilize at times.

according to Forbes and others we are the 8th highest taxed per household in the nation

8. Washington
Population: 6.6 million

Average tax burden per person: $2,553

Thanks to California, the West Coast has a reputation for heavily taxing businesses. Washington, however, likes to spread the burden around, making it the leading Western state for taxes. There are low property taxes in the state, and no personal income tax, but just try and buy something. Sales taxes--which come out to $2,181 per person--account for 85% of personal taxes paid.

State operating budget facts:

• The state will have 5 percent more money to spend in the 2009-11 budget cycle compared to the current budget cycle (2007-09).
• The 2007-09 operating budget has a spending growth rate more than twice its revenue growth rate, including $1.7 billion in deficit spending.
• State spending has increased by 33 percent, more than $8 billion, since 2005.
• The state had a $1.8 billion surplus in the 2005-07 budget cycle.