LRB 3295 - Snowmobile legislation  -  January 6, 2012

Now known as AB465 & SB365

AB465 -   https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/related/proposals/ab465

SB365 -   https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/related/proposals/sb365

This week Representative Ballweg and Senator Olsen drafted legislation to generate revenue for the Snowmobile Program to establish and maintain the trails. Below is a summary of the draft. Please let us know if you haveany questions or concerns. 

Wisconsin is home to approximately 25,000 miles of snowmobile trails, the largest such system in North America.

Snowmobiling has become one of Wisconsin’s leading outdoor activities, contributing by some estimates over $1 billion annually in tourism and retail revenue to our state. It should be known that our state’s snowmobile program, regarded as one of America’s best exists without funding from non-snowmobiling taxpayers.

It is not state or local government providing these trails – they are provided by snowmobile clubs and county alliances whose members volunteer time and effort to establish and then maintain the trails throughout the season. Non-club members enjoy this statewide system at relatively no cost and without effort.

While Wisconsin’s trail system has expanded, its level of funding and number of active volunteers has remained static. Fuel costs, costs for grooming machines and parts, insurance rates, etc. have all risen while the cost of registering a “sled” has not. The gap in funding is typically covered by the clubs and their members who simply love their sport. The gap in manpower available to establish and maintain the trails has become overwhelming.

We often turn to our local snowmobile clubs and to the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC) for solutions to resolve snowmobiling difficulties. These entities strongly recommend the “two-tiered” approach to addressing funding and manpower shortfalls.

LRB-3295 was introduced to help assure the future of this prized outdoor activity that contributes so greatly to our state’s economy. My proposal is somewhat similar to the initiative introduced by Senator Holperin and Rep. Danou last session, but absent of the spending measures found in their efforts.

LRB-3295 makes registration of a snowmobile a one-time event rather than a requirement every two years. Annual trail passes would need to be purchased and displayed, and these passes would become the basis for appropriations.

LRB-3295 also sets the cost of an annual trail pass at $35.00, and essentially provides a credit of $20.00 to snowmobile club and AWSC members who have, on average paid that same amount in annual dues. The cost of an annual trail pass for these AWSC and club members would be $15.00.