ImCooter
03-30-2005, 08:35 AM
Carol Smith (AMA, TMTC) has been working diligently during this legislative session to get another funding mechanism for ATV/MC/OHV trails on the floor of hte TX Legislature. This will be a sticker program, $15 per year. HB 2897, sponsored by Representative Rene Oliveira and SB 1311, sponsored by Senator Juan Hinojosa are in committee now.
This new legislation will take the money from the sticker program and put it into a fund that is ONLY accessible for offroad projects. It has a maximum cap of 15% for administrative costs. The best part is that it will be administrated by a board consisting of some TP&W people, probably some legislators, but most importantly actual offroad recreationalists!!
The funds from this account could/would be used for that initial 20% match on any RTP grant cycle as approved by the board. It could also be used as a direct fund for projects of its own, etc… It would make RTP grants tremendously more user friendly for the offroading organizations around the state (TMTC, etc…).
SB155 mandated that the state would provide alternative areas, however it did NOT mandate any funding or any funding sources. The answer to the question, “Why would I want to give them more of my money?” is very simple: to hold the state to its mandate of providing alternative riding areas we must provide it with funding.
We need everyone to contact the sponsors of this bill to give them our support. Feel free to forward this info out to all your contacts, clubs, anyone you think will respond. If you are an officer in a club, and/or can speak for your group, mention that group and how many of you there are. Do NOT mention Carol Smith by name. She worked hard on getting this into the legislation for all TX offroaders, it should not look like its her own personal agenda.
Fax, email or snail mail a handwritten letter as soon as you can. Fax or snail mail is best, I know it's not the most convenient, but it holds more weight. Just scribble your thoughts on a sheet of paper and fax it. It's just that easy - just that effective - your handwritten, faxed letter will be read. IF YOU VALUE MOTORIZED TRAILS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS - NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!!!
This new legislation will take the money from the sticker program and put it into a fund that is ONLY accessible for offroad projects. It has a maximum cap of 15% for administrative costs. The best part is that it will be administrated by a board consisting of some TP&W people, probably some legislators, but most importantly actual offroad recreationalists!!
The funds from this account could/would be used for that initial 20% match on any RTP grant cycle as approved by the board. It could also be used as a direct fund for projects of its own, etc… It would make RTP grants tremendously more user friendly for the offroading organizations around the state (TMTC, etc…).
SB155 mandated that the state would provide alternative areas, however it did NOT mandate any funding or any funding sources. The answer to the question, “Why would I want to give them more of my money?” is very simple: to hold the state to its mandate of providing alternative riding areas we must provide it with funding.
We need everyone to contact the sponsors of this bill to give them our support. Feel free to forward this info out to all your contacts, clubs, anyone you think will respond. If you are an officer in a club, and/or can speak for your group, mention that group and how many of you there are. Do NOT mention Carol Smith by name. She worked hard on getting this into the legislation for all TX offroaders, it should not look like its her own personal agenda.
Fax, email or snail mail a handwritten letter as soon as you can. Fax or snail mail is best, I know it's not the most convenient, but it holds more weight. Just scribble your thoughts on a sheet of paper and fax it. It's just that easy - just that effective - your handwritten, faxed letter will be read. IF YOU VALUE MOTORIZED TRAILS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS - NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!!!