Here is the real deal accurate info from Alger SORVA.
Visitors Bureau - The $ that come from them do not pay the operators. This money is used for improving area trails. Equipment, Rent, Natural Gas....
Here is how the Grant Program works.. (taken from official letter)
Note that this does not cover the cost of tractors or major break downs.
The reimbursement rate for the 2018-2019 snowmobile season will be $4.75 per mile. This is a .16 increase from last season.
According to the December 3, 2018 report of the Midwest's average diesel fuel rate, there was an 8.342 percent increase in fuel costs from December 4, 2018. The 2017-2018 Cost Analysis revealed that the state-wide average fuel rate was $1.92 per mile. Last year's fuel rate was paid at $1.92 per mile in the reimbursement rate formula during the season. The fuel portion matched exactly so there was no fuel adjustment at the end of the season.
The percent increase is being calculated to the fuel component of the reimbursement formula. Labor and routine maintenance remains the same, $2.15 and $0.52.
The 2018-2019 Cost Analysis will be completed at the end of the grooming season and will be used to determine if a fuel cost adjustment should be warranted.
The reimbursement rate of $4.75 per mile will have an effective date of December 1, 2018 until March 31, 2019. Please use this new reimbursement rate when submitting monthly reports and reimbursement requests to the Department of Natural Resource's snowmobile field staff.
Alger County SORVA -----
Out of that 4.75 per mile 1.25 per mile is paid to groomer operators. (labor and routine maintenance)
A typical run is 40 miles. Some guys go 50 or 60 miles in a 14 hour run.
So a 40 mile run in an evening will get you 50$
We currently groom 102 miles of grant funded snowmobile trail.
We also have a couple of local spurs which local businesses fund.
Examples - Holiday Inn Spur - Wetmore Spur between FFH13 (Holiday gas station) to the East Miners Trail along M28