FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATORS CONSIDERING USING OHV FUNDS TO
OPERATE STATE PARKS WHERE OHV USE IS NOT ALLOWED
California residents are urged to call their representatives and members of
the Budget Conference Committee to ask them to not take money out of the
OHV Trust Fund to operate CA State Parks where OHV use is NOT allowed
BAKERSFIELD, CA (June 12, 2009) The State of California is in the midst of a severe
budget crisis. Some legislators in the State would like to destroy one of the only
programs in the State that is self funded and does not use any general fund money. In
1971 the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) community agreed not use general fund dollars to
operate and maintain their system of recreation areas. Instead, this segment of the
recreating public chose a pay to play system. The OHV Division of California State Parks
is funded exclusively by taxes paid on gasoline used recreating off-highway, red and
green sticker registration fees and entrance fees to the State Vehicular Recreation Areas
(SVRAs).
Earlier this year the OHV trust fund was already raided by the Legislature to lend the
general fund $90 million that had been set aside for acquiring new properties. And now
after that money has been sacrificed to the current budget crisis, the OHV community in
California is being asked to give more! When will this madness stop? Why destroy one of
the only successful and fully self funded programs in the State? Instead, our
representatives are looking to steal the money of hard working OHV recreating families.
The leaders of this State should attempt to emulate the success of the OHV program in
order to properly fund other non OHV State Parks that are in need of operating funds.
Below you will find the contact information for the members of the Budget Conference
Committee who will be considering this irresponsible action. Please contact them as well
as your local representatives and express your displeasure with the idea of using OHV
trust funds to operate California State Parks where OHV use is not allowed. Below you
will find a template letter that can be personalized and faxed or e-mailed to the
members of the Committee. This template letter can also be found on the AMA D37
message board at
http://www.district37ama.org/forums/ in both the off-road and dual sport
forums.
Together the OHV community can make a difference!
2009 Budget Conference Committee Members
Assembly
Noreen Evans - Fax 916-319-2107 (phone 916-319-2007) (Chair)
Roger Niello - Fax 916-319-2105 (phone 916-319-2004)
Bob Blumenfield - 916-319-2140 (phone 916-319-2040)
Kevin de Leon - Fax 916-319-2145 (phone 916-319-2045)
Jim Nielsen - Fax916- 319-2102 (phone 916-319-2002)
Senate
Denise Ducheny - Fax 916-327-3522 (phone 916-651-4040) (Chair)
Bob Dutton - Fax 916-327-2272 (phone 916-651-4031)
Mark Leno - Fax 916-445-4722 (phone 916-651-4003)
Alan Lowenthal - Fax 916-327-9113 (phone 916-651-4027)
Mimi Walters - Fax 916-651-4033 (phone 916-651-4033)
Above you will find a list of the 2009 Budget Conference Committee Members. If one of
your legislators is on this committee then please send a letter to them. If not, please
send a letter to the chair of either of the committees or both.
******************************************* Sample Letter *******************************************
Dear (insert name of Legislator):
My family enjoys recreating together on off-highway vehicles. This is one of the few
activities that everyone in our family can participate in together. I am also aware of the
fact that the state of California is in the midst of a serious financial crisis. It is my
understanding that the state is considering using OHV trust fund dollars to fund parks
that do NOT allow OHV use. I am strongly opposed to this idea.
In 1971 the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) community agreed not use general fund dollars
to operate and maintain their system of recreation areas. Instead, the OHV recreating
public chose a pay to play system. The OHV Division of California State Parks is funded
exclusively by taxes paid on gasoline used recreating off-highway, red and green sticker
registration fees and entrance fees to the State Vehicular Recreation Areas (SVRAs).
Earlier this year the OHV trust fund was already raided by the Legislature to lend the
general fund $90 million that had been set aside for acquiring new properties. And now
after that money has been sacrificed to the current budget crisis, the OHV community in
California is being asked to give more! When will this madness stop? Why destroy one of
the only successful and fully self funded programs in the State? Why are these
representatives looking to steal the money of hard working OHV recreating families, like
mine? The leaders of this State should attempt to emulate the success of the OHV
program in order to properly fund other non OHV State Parks that are in need of
operating funds.
Sincerely,
Your name
& address
###
ORBA is a national trade association composed of off-road related businesses united to
promote common goals that support the prosperity and growth of the off-road industry.
Meg Grossglass
Media Relations and Land Use
ORBA - the Off-Road Business Association
951-926-1953 - office
951-415-1869 - Cell
661-323-1464 - Corporate Office
