The 2011-2012 Session of the WI Legislature ended 16 March without passage of either the Senate or Assembly version of CAP/STEP. The basics of this bill is if you're a member of a club/AWSC you pay one amount for your trail pass, if you're not a member you would pay a higher trail pass fee. The intent of the bill was to gain club members and MUCH needed funds for trail maint.
WI CAP/STEP bill
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Deleted member 10829
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That's too bad, it makes a lot of sense! If you look at what it costs to register a sled in WI, only $30 for 2 years, it's a bargain. If you live in MI, you pay registration AND $45 per year trail permit. So for comparison to the 2 year WI fee, that's $90 PLUS registration, which I'm not sure what registration is in MI. You gotta pay to play!
As a current Director in the ASWC I have some issues with the CAP/STEP program. Last Fall I voiced my concerns at the Workshop in Stevens Point. It is obvious that the state needs to get more money into the clubs that maintain the trails. Not including this season; each of the last couple of years there has been a shortage of $1.5 million to $3 million each year! That is why the supplement has been in the 50 to 65 percent range. What type of operation can run with more money going out than what is coming in?
How many of you got to ride the "wash board" trails from the big leap year storm in Northern WI this year? I understand that most of the problem was too much heavy/wet snow at once so the groomers couldn't groom. However, unless something changes in the next couple of years clubs might not be able to maintain the trails.
Is the CAP/STEP Program the answer... Yes, if it ever happens??? Are WI residents paying a lot less than our neighboring (MN & MI) states to own and operate a snowmobile???...YES! Will the AWSC ever look at a Plan B since the CAP/STEP failed to even make it out of the committee???
It may appear that the CAP/STEP Program is a easy fix. On paper it will generate more money and club members. However, since the majority of residents in WI that have registered snowmobiles are not club members....the term "majority rules" comes into play. The ratio is something like 1 to 4 depending on the exact number of registered snowmobiles (this number is down about 40% this year due to the unfavorable weather) and the number of sleds that each owner has. Note that I am using 200,000 as the # of registered sleds and 25,000 for the number of current members in the AWSC. If the average snowmobile owner has 2 sleds, this how the 1 to 4 ratio (25%) was calculated. Since the majority (75%+/-) of the snowmobilers in WI are not club members they most likely would not be in favor of having to pay $20 more per year than what the club members are paying.... Politicians tend to listen to their constituents!
The following video explains just how the trails in WI are managed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTV_apTJU2M
For the record I am only stating MY opinion on this.
How many of you got to ride the "wash board" trails from the big leap year storm in Northern WI this year? I understand that most of the problem was too much heavy/wet snow at once so the groomers couldn't groom. However, unless something changes in the next couple of years clubs might not be able to maintain the trails.
Is the CAP/STEP Program the answer... Yes, if it ever happens??? Are WI residents paying a lot less than our neighboring (MN & MI) states to own and operate a snowmobile???...YES! Will the AWSC ever look at a Plan B since the CAP/STEP failed to even make it out of the committee???
It may appear that the CAP/STEP Program is a easy fix. On paper it will generate more money and club members. However, since the majority of residents in WI that have registered snowmobiles are not club members....the term "majority rules" comes into play. The ratio is something like 1 to 4 depending on the exact number of registered snowmobiles (this number is down about 40% this year due to the unfavorable weather) and the number of sleds that each owner has. Note that I am using 200,000 as the # of registered sleds and 25,000 for the number of current members in the AWSC. If the average snowmobile owner has 2 sleds, this how the 1 to 4 ratio (25%) was calculated. Since the majority (75%+/-) of the snowmobilers in WI are not club members they most likely would not be in favor of having to pay $20 more per year than what the club members are paying.... Politicians tend to listen to their constituents!
The following video explains just how the trails in WI are managed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTV_apTJU2M
For the record I am only stating MY opinion on this.
polarismike
Member
Did the bill even make it to a vote, or not even that far?
yamahauler
Active member
Am I understanding this right.
This bill is saying that if I don't belong to a club then I have to pay a higher price for registration?
If this is true, I strongly disagree with the bill. Now, as for paying a little more to play and everyone pays that, that's what I would agree with.
Maybe clubs need to work at finding out why people don't join(maybe it has been done, I'm just speculating) and do something to try and get them to join.
Joining though is half the work, getting those that joined to work is a whole other story.
This bill is saying that if I don't belong to a club then I have to pay a higher price for registration?
If this is true, I strongly disagree with the bill. Now, as for paying a little more to play and everyone pays that, that's what I would agree with.
Maybe clubs need to work at finding out why people don't join(maybe it has been done, I'm just speculating) and do something to try and get them to join.
Joining though is half the work, getting those that joined to work is a whole other story.
harski
Member
Education has to be the key on this. Meaning, how to reach out to the non-club members and educate them on the in/outs of being involved with a club. What's involved (ie; brush clearing, trail marking, fundraising, groomer maintenance, etc...). I have to agree to that all of us can pay more for regristration whether involved or not. Cost justification in my opinion if drivers were payed too so clubs could provided the best trails as possible for their communities and important tourism dollars especially for the Northern Wi communities.
Harski
Harski