New York State trying to raid trail fund

According to the New York State Snowmobile Association (NYSSA), New York Governor David A. Patterson has proposed in his 2010 Executive Budget to “sweep” $5 million from the snowmobile trail development and maintenance fund into the general fund over the next several years. Additionally, the proposal includes $1 million of that trail fund money to be taken this fiscal year.

“This unprecedented sweep is being proposed less than two years after a previous attempt to take $1 million during the 2008-2009 budget process was avoided with the understanding by NYSSA and its supporters that similar raids would not be attempted in the future,” the NYSSA says on its web site. “Governor Paterson stated in a press release at the time that the state would ‘ensure that money from these registration fees will be spent in a way that specifically benefits snowmobilers… solely on trail maintenance and related program activities.’”

The NYSSA is urging its members and every New York snowmobiler to take action by writing their legislators and the Governor.

For more information, visit the NYSSA web site.