Date: 5/9/2020
Subject: COHVCO ACTION ALERT -- Theft of $5 Million in Colorado OHV Funds at Stake!!!
From: COHVCO
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ACTION ALERT
Theft of $5 Million in Colorado OHV Funds at Stake!!!
It has come to our attention that the Colorado Joint Budget Committee (JBC) is looking at rescinding all or part of funding for the OHV program in response to the COVID outbreak. This is the fund that is created from your OHV dollars and it will be used for other purposes despite the fact it is not general tax revenues. This would mean millions of your registration dollars would be lost if the rescission happens!!! While we are all concerned about the COVID issues and response, redirecting the OHV fund is not the way to solve this problem.
We need you to email the JBC members and let them know this is not acceptable, but you must do so politely to be effective. You can cut and paste from the points below, but we would still encourage you to rewrite them or add personal experiences with the program. You don't need to address every point…shorter is better.
Our thoughts for comments in opposition to the rescission:
- The OHV Program is a voluntarily collected fund for the benefits of the trails community and should not be reallocated for other uses as the program benefits all trails uses, both motorized and non-motorized; in fact, it outstrips all funding from other sources set aside for trails by a factor of 5! We believe dedicated funds should be used for their intended purpose.
- The Governor has repeatedly stated the response to COVID is a statewide issue and the response shouldered among all residents of the State. It is unfair to place additional burdens or costs on certain user groups simply because there is money available.
- The challenge of funding adequate trails is being exacerbated by a record number of Coloradans seeking relief from the stress and isolation of COVID encouraged by the Governor’s orders to continue outdoor recreational activities. Trail recreation is the number one outdoor recreational activity in Colorado according to the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife. The program funds are critical to meeting the demand for trails during and after the COVID crisis.
- The OHV program hires more than 400 seasonal employees for shovel ready maintenance projects protecting natural resources, through federal, state and local agencies. These jobs are critical to the recovery and have already received dozens of applicants for each position as result of the record levels of unemployment.
- OHV grants are contractual obligations and must be honored as most require the grantee to outlay money and then apply to be reimbursed from the grant. This reimbursement process can take time and as a result much of the fund may have already been spent and simply awaiting reimbursement from the program. Failing to reimburse grantees is a “double lose” situation as money has already been spent and then could never be reimbursed.
- OHV grants are contractual obligations and governed by Federal, State and Local procurement statutes and have taken decades of effort to align. Failure of reimbursement can violate these laws and attempting to sort out reimbursement becomes a difficult and time-consuming task. Reestablishing partnerships for creating new contracts and subsequent trail work can take years.
- Because of multiple jurisdictions working together to provide trails (it can include cities, counties, state and federal governments) we would hope the JBC would be asking instead “how can we get as much funding as quickly as possible to this great recreational need."
| | Email JBC members (politely) at the addresses below: | | Senator Dominick Moreno
Representative Julie McCluskie
Representative Kim Ransom
| | Representative Daneya Esgar
Senator Bob Rankin
Senator Rachel Zenzinger
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Due Date: NOW! Voting takes place on May 12th!
| Colorado Off Highway Vehicle Coalition
P.O. Box 741353
Arvada, CO 80006
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