Expect Less Snowmobile Grooming Due to I-976 (Car Tab) Passage

[bigtex]

2014: Snowmobile groups ask the legislature to increase snowmobile registration fees from $30 to $50 after 12 years of no fee increases. Groups say the extra money is needed due to inflation and not as many trails being groomed with stagnant money at increased work costs. Bill passes and becomes law.

2019: I-976 (car tab fees) passes. The initiative requires that the snowmobile registration fee be reduced from $50 to $30

Now: The state expects there to be $240,000 less in the Snowmobile Account and is preparing for less grooming/plowing.

[Bob33]

I'm fine with that.

[Russ McDonald]

Not on federal land.  Grooming is at the same level. 

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[bigtex]

Not on federal land.  Grooming is at the same level. 

If I'm not mistaken USFS does (or has in the past) get grants from State Parks for trail grooming. Those grant moneys are what is being cut as a result of the car tab fees.

https://parks.state.wa.us/148/Sports-Funding-Program

[Birdguy]

I have ridden snowmobiles for 35 years and never once on a groomed trail... if you need groomed trails, PAY FOR THE GROOMING! I agree we as users pay for the things we use. I am reminded every time I buy a license, tag, tabs (for tucks, cars, boats, trailers), buy a Discover pass  , national forest pass  , and so many other things. $50 for groomed trails seems pretty fair if I were snowmobiling with that crowd.

[bear]

Good deal.  Glad to see people saving $20. Win-win

[KFhunter]

I have ridden snowmobiles for 35 years and never once on a groomed trail... if you need groomed trails, PAY FOR THE GROOMING! I agree we as users pay for the things we use. I am reminded every time I buy a license, tag, tabs (for tucks, cars, boats, trailers), buy a Discover pass  , national forest pass  , and so many other things. $50 for groomed trails seems pretty fair if I were snowmobiling with that crowd.

I ride BC, they don't know what a groomer is, just pound the whoops for 12-20 miles then hit the alpine 

[Russ McDonald]

Not on federal land.  Grooming is at the same level. 

If I'm not mistaken USFS does (or has in the past) get grants from State Parks for trail grooming. Those grant moneys are what is being cut as a result of the car tab fees.

https://parks.state.wa.us/148/Sports-Funding-Program

In the district meeting the other day it was said that grooming and plowing were going on as planned on the 70 road on the MBS south zone.  Not sure about about the north zone.  I will have to ask my buddy up there.  Top of Snoqualmie pass that is the OKA/WEN that manages those trails.

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[BDildine]

expect tabs to go up more if this pay per mile goes through, because they figure so many miles/gallons per year to snowmobile registered, so they get a certain $ amount  out of  the gas tax kitty. That will go away if Inslees next idea passes.....

[jstone]

This is not really a big deal. It’s when they cancel jobs that affect the transit cause they will shift the money to sound transit. Typical ploy for them to take it away from things that have no reason to be screwed with.

[Katmai Guy]

Allow ALL tracked vehicles to use the groomed trails (mostly public roads) and you've just increased your revenue base.

[jstone]

It’s known this state has lots of revenue. They don’t need to keep grabbing and taxing us.!!!

[Pinetar]

 

Allow ALL tracked vehicles to use the groomed trails (mostly public roads) and you've just incerase your revenue base.

  Tracked rigs do less damage on the groomed trails then sleds and they will get more revenue from them.

[timberfaller]

Gee, I wonder how all the "snowmobiler's" did it back before any grooming was done!  How'd we all survive back before cell phones,  all season radials and 4x4's

I purchased a new sled back in 1973, $950  went around everywhere I wanted to go!  Oh how the times have changed(but not for the better it seems).

Hint: government was smaller and less intrusive back then!!

[jmscon]

Gee, I wonder how all the "snowmobiler's" did it back before any grooming was done!  How'd we all survive back before cell phones,  all season radials and 4x4's

I purchased a new sled back in 1973, $950  went around everywhere I wanted to go!  Oh how the times have changed(but not for the better it seems).

Hint: government was smaller and less intrusive back then!!

In 1970 the states population was less than half of what it is now, 3.5 million. There was no need for the size of government we have now. WA population is at 7.5 million now.

It’s great that there are ways to get more people out and about in the winter but I don’t understand why people think it shouldn’t cost anything. Tags and tabs should pay for everything and shouldn’t go up. No one should ever get a raise, equipment and maintenance always costs the same.