Snapshot - revenue fron Snowmobiling - NYS

The proposed state budget includes a raid on the dedicated snowmobile trail development and maintenance fund, sweeping $5 million over the next four years and authorizing the state to take even more. New York competes with Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Ontario, and Quebec for snowmobile tourism dollars. This year, almost 17,000 out-of-state snowmobilers registered their sleds to ride New York trails. However, cutting funding to clubs will have an adverse effect on trail safety and quality. In addition to a $1 billion economic impact, the state snowmobile association estimates that snowmobiling in New York generates more than $25 million in state gas and sales tax revenues. This plan will cost the state millions more in lost taxes than the sweep will save.