State of Wisconsin New Trail Pass $30 Fee + Usual Registration Fee...

[casco_chief]

From my Understanding the State of Wisconsin has decided to change their Snowmobile Registration Fee Amounts effective July 2015 from "$30 for two years", to "$30 for three years".. But in addition they now Added a charge of $30 a YEAR for a Trail Pass.. To add a twist to the situation; apparently if you choose to belong to an Official Wisconsin Snowmobile Club and Pay Annual Club Dues, you will be charged $10 Year Fee to State of Wisconsin for the Trail Pass Vs. the new $30 State of Wisconsin Trail Pass Fee...
Here in N.E. Wisconsin (Green Bay) our Local Snowmobile Club has not seen nearly enough snow this entire 2014-2015 season to consider opening the trail system..
I understand Michigan has a similar Fee set-up. But it sure seems like enough money for people in many parts of Wisconsin who many times don't get Nearly the amount of snow as seen up north into Michigan.. Hopefully these added fee's will not distract young families on a budget from enjoying the Snowmobiling Recreation we had for So many years in Wisconsin..
The Only possibly positive outcome I can see to this scenario would maybe be an Increase in Snowmobile Club Memberships in Wisconsin, and hopefully a much needed increase in revenue for Local Snowmobile Clubs..

What do other people think of these Changes, and the Added Fee's??

 

[jr37]

This has been worked over on this site before......


Just to correct one of your statements. If you are a club and AWSC member your annual trail pass will be $10 dollars, not an additional $10 to the $30 trail pass.

Without this change, there was the very real possibility of clubs folding under. The snowmobile program in WI has been severely under funded for many years now. The costs of everything has gone way up, but the clubs reimbursement has not. This new trail pass is important to the future of the trails in WI.

 

[casco_chief]

jr37,
Thanks so much for the Update... I believe Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs are way under funded, under appreciated, and Ultimately Need more Good Members to keep the Tradition alive...

Sorry I had missed all this discussion in past post.... Thanks Again!

 

[groomerdriver]

Without this change, there was the very real possibility of clubs folding under.

jr37 - IMO the trail pass will not prevent clubs from folding. If there is no interest in helping out, then no amount of money will keep a club running. I've talked to so many riders that have no plans to join a club...they are just going to pay for the sticker and be done with it. Sad but true.

 

[whitedust]

jr37 - IMO the trail pass will not prevent clubs from folding. If there is no interest in helping out, then no amount of money will keep a club running. I've talked to so many riders that have no plans to join a club...they are just going to pay for the sticker and be done with it. Sad but true.

Yep heard the same thing but law has a setting sun if this doesn't work to bolster active membership. Probably breakeven cost when you join a Club with cost of membership dues.....each Club is different. Good intentions might work but not all people want or can help with Club activities ...just have to see.

 

[united]

Exactly. This system offers no incentive to join a club. Same price whether you join a club or just simply pay the state.

 

[soxfan3]

I personally think it was drawn up to stop IL people from registering in WI. And I don't blame them I guess. Under current system, if an IL resident registered in WI it cost $15/yr ($30 for 2 yrs), no $35 trail pass needed. Under new law, it costs $10/yr for reg., +/-$25/yr for club dues & $10 for trail pass ($45 total). Or $50 out of state trail pass. So no real savings in doing it.

My biggest question is: Which way does more money actually get to the trail? By buying the out of state trail pass or by joining a club (which I cannot volunteer help because I am 6 hours away)?

 

[xcr440]

Exactly. This system offers no incentive to join a club. Same price whether you join a club or just simply pay the state.

This is the OPPOSITE of how you should think. The incentive is no additional cost to join a club and get that money to the clubs!

 

[goofy600]

Exactly. This system offers no incentive to join a club. Same price whether you join a club or just simply pay the state.

What is the average cost of club dues? Then if Ty join club how many stickers can you get at $10? I think it is only 2 so depending on club membership might be a slight savings! And unfortunately not all people can help with the work that the clubs have, like myself at this point in my life but I still join clubs to donate money to help the clubs in that way. When life allowes more time I will be there to help but till then I can only give cash, and that is the second big part for the clubs.

 

[whitedust]

Out of state WI trail permit $50 per sled ....MI trail permit $45 per sled will force area choices for multiple family sleds. This is what worries me not the cost to a single sled rider. The permit money is needed but getting expensive for the casual family riders to visit both states with multiple sleds. IDK how this will pan out for multiple state use? UP always has more snow but northern WI kept trails in great condition with less snow this season...to me choices will be made due to the cost of each state trail permits.

 

[united]

This is the OPPOSITE of how you should think. The incentive is no additional cost to join a club and get that money to the clubs!

Agree. But let's look at this realistically and not emotionally. I thought one of the original intentions for doing it this way was to increase club membership, not make club members feel better about already being in a club. My suggestion was to make it $5 cheaper if you join a club. I am already a member and would like more people to join. But why would someone who is not already in a club now go out of their way to suddenly join a club if it's easier just to pay the state? No incentive. This is the part that either I don't understand or a lot of others do not understand.

 

[rp7x]

I,m done rideing at home , don't much any ways , may not keep my reg current

 

[united]

Goofy600 - Right. I guess there is an incentive if you own more than one sled. But I think that is more of an exception. Hopefully if you do own more than one. you are already in a club, so back round to the beginning.

 

[sweeperguy]

I think joining the local club shouldn't be about a couple measly dollars. And you don't have to volunteer to work every weekend, even if you can only do a little light work. Being involved and knowing what is going on in your area is good. That way when things change you have some info on why, and if you did or, did not try to support or deny the change. Instead of just bashing the good intentions of the people who are involved. They try to do the best they can for everyone, but they do need your input to have the information to make the best decisions they can. The inventive should be to make the sport better for all.

 

[goofy600]

I would think joining the club your money goes into the club pay the state it goes all over the state and not where you would normally ride. Now I know everyone can get into many different clubs trails but for me I base out of watersmeet and live in south east wisconsin so I join watersmeet club and now will consider Lando club or one in that area. I would rather see my money used in that area than be shared with the whole state in areas I will probably never ride. J2C. And when I someday will have time to volunteer it will be where I ride. So I guess the money is the most important part I can do for now, it for me isn't about saving 5 or 10 bucks I want it to go where it can benefit me the most and I think most would agree they want there money to go where they ride and joining a club should do better than letting the state deside who gets it cause we all know how that can go!

 

[firefighter1]

I agree with some of the statements on here that there is no incentive to join a club. I am a person who registered his sled in Wisconsin because it was cheaper that way. With that said I aslo belong to a club in Minnesota where I live and volunteer time to sign trails and do brush work. With two teenagers at home I only have enough time to do work with one club so I picked my home state as I used to belong and volunteer time in a Wisconsin club also. My point is at $50 dollars a sled for a trail pass and two sleds I would rather go to Michigan and ride because the snow depth is that much better. Before I could ride Wisconsin for $15 dollars a year and now it will be $50 dollars a year. It's not really about the money but if I'm going to pay that amount I would rather ride my home state where I already have to register or Michigan where the snow is better and less traffic. I love riding the trails in Wisconsin but does it make economic sense anymore.

 

[kevinj]

I could not have said it better Sweeperguy..."The incentive should be to make the sport better for all." I just ran some numbers. I am still working on a couple of other scenarios (i.e. for non-WI Residents), but here is what I have now for WI Residents w/ and w/o Club Membership...

WI Resident / WI Registration / Club & AWSC Member - $45 Current Cost Annually
WI Resident / WI Registration / Club & AWSC Member - $50 Future Cost Annually
Current costs are $30/2yr Registration + Typical $30 Family Club Dues
Future costs are $30/3yr Registration + Typical $30 Family Club Dues
Basically a $5 increase per sled per year.

WI Resident / WI Registration / Non-Club Member - $15 Current Cost Annually
WI Resident / WI Registration / Non-Club Member - $40 Future Cost Annually
Current costs are $30/2yr Registration (No club dues, no trail pass)
Future costs are $30/3yr Registration + $30 Trail Pass (No club dues)
Basically a $25 increase per sled per year.

The one question I would need answered before I can finish my other scenarios would be if there is a non-WI resident, with his home state's registration, needing an out of state pass, it is unclear if they would need dual registration. I don't think so, but it seems like it is written that way to me on the AWSC FAQs.

 

[opt8low]

Most trails in WI are not funded by the state trail fund. The state trail fund only funds the state corridor trails. Most trails you ride, at least in the northwoods, are club only trails. These are funded by the club and the members not from the state funds. Please remember this when you decide to just buy a trail pass at full price.....


Dana

 

[groomerdriver]

Most trails in WI are not funded by the state trail fund. The state trail fund only funds the state corridor trails. Most trails you ride, at least in the northwoods, are club only trails. These are funded by the club and the members not from the state funds. Please remember this when you decide to just buy a trail pass at full price.....


Dana

C'mon Dana...you're from Rhinelander right? There more WI state funded trails than just the numbered corridor trails! Now, I've said for years that EVERY trail north of Hwy 8 SHOULD be state funded. The actual number is (and this is my best guess) 65% and the rest are "club" trails that the club itself pays for to maintain.

Another thing = maybe somebody already said it here but if you are a WI resident, belonging to a club will only benefit you dollar-wise if you register more than one sled.

 

[soxfan3]

Question: If an IL resident does the "dual registration thing" and gets the WI registration ($30/3yrs), can they then buy the non-club member trail pass for $30? Or do they have to buy the out of state pass ($50)? Do you have to be a WI resident to get the $30 pass or just have a WI registration on sled?