BASIS AND PURPOSE
This regulation is out-of-date, unnecessary, and is inconsistent with the nonresident snowmobile fee listed in the regulation # 709 2.d. registration fee schedule.  In July of 1996, the Parks Board reorganized regulations and created a new Chapter 7.  The new chapter consists of a fee schedule for passes, permits, and registrations.  Regulation #403 has been superseded and needs to be deleted.    

The statutory authority for this regulation can be found in Colorado Revised Statutes sections 33-10-101, 33-10-102, 33-10-106, 33-10-107, 33-10-108, 33-10-109, 33-14-101, 33-14-102, 33-14-104, 33-14-105, and 24-4-103.

#403
EFFECTIVE DATE
These regulations shall become effective October 1, 2007, and shall remain in full force and effect until amended, repealed, or superseded by the Board of Parks and Outdoor Recreation.  Adopted by the Board of Parks and Outdoor Recreation of the State of Colorado this 15th day of June 2007.

___________________
Dr. Tom Ready
Chairman

___________________  

Secretary

BASIS AND PURPOSE
The snowmobile recreation fund is an earmarked cash fund.  All fees collected from the registration of snowmobiles, and all interest earned on such moneys, are credited to the fund pursuant to 33-14-106 C.R.S.  The same statute authorizes the fund to be utilized for the administration of the program, for the establishment and maintenance of snowmobile trails, vehicle parking areas, and facilities.  The statute also states that any moneys collected in excess of $5.00/registration be used exclusively for direct services and not for administrative costs.

The Colorado Snowmobile Association (CSA) is requesting that the Parks Board increase the snowmobile registration fee by $10.00.  The CSA is composed of 35 snowmobile clubs, representing over 2,500 members. CSA cites the rapid rise in snowmobile trail grooming and maintenance costs, including fuel costs, and dramatic increases in liability insurance costs for trail grooming and maintenance activities as the basis for the need to add more revenue to the snowmobile recreation fund. 
 
The last increase in the snowmobile registration fee occurred on January 1, 2003.  The fee was increased then by $5.00/registration, from $15.00 to $20.00.  Currently, 68% of the snowmobile recreation program budget is used to support winter trail grooming activities for all winter recreationists.  Twenty-seven snowmobile clubs accomplish trail grooming.  Combined, they groom over 3,000 miles of trail annually.  The clubs also receive financial support from the fund for grooming operations and for replacement of grooming equipment.  The remainder of the fund is used for program operations including capital equipment purchases, trail signing, safety education, avalanche warning program support, registration operations, and snowmobile safety and registration enforcement patrols.  

The $10.00/registration increase, which will become effective during the next registration cycle beginning on October 1, 2007, will generate an estimated additional $333,000.00 in snowmobile fund revenue.  This additional money will be utilized as follows:
•	$230,000 will be added to trail grooming and snow grooming equipment, 
•	$103,000 will be added to snowmobile safety education, patrols, trail signing, avalanche warning/safety support, registration operations, staff support, and agency overhead. 
The additional funding will provide for approximately 1000 additional hours of trail grooming each season and additional funding for replacement grooming equipment.

The statutory authority for this regulation can be found in Colorado Revised Statutes sections 33-10-101, 33-10-102, 33-10-106, 33-10-107, 33-10-108, 33-10-109, 33-14-101, 33-14-102, 33-14-104, 33-14-105, 33-14-106 and 24-4-103.

#709-2
EFFECTIVE DATE
These regulations shall become effective October 1, 2007, and shall remain in full force and effect until amended, repealed, or superseded by the Board of Parks and Outdoor Recreation.  Adopted by the Board of Parks and Outdoor Recreation of the State of Colorado this 15th day of June 2007.

___________________
Dr. Tom Ready
Chairman

___________________  

Secretary