Now is the time to scream

[GrizzlyBear]

Yesterday we had the quarterly meeting of the OHV Recreation Advisory Committee.  What we learned was horrible. The legislature in an attempt to balance the budget "swept" all of the money from the T. Mark Schmidt Trust fund. Thia amounted to them taking 2.4 million this year and 2 million last year.  Included in this was $700,000 that we had awarded in grants in April.  The major problem is that while this is a trust fund, the legislature has the right to do this to every trust fund every year.

The voices of the ATV community need to be heard.  Everyone must call every legislature they know and let them know that when this was setup, it had a purpose, and it was being used for that purpose.  Call them now, call them often, and don't give up.

Terry

[lswjth2]

Thxs Terry, unfortunately this does not surprise me...

[AintSkeered]

Scream for sure! But, please support the private sector, specifically places like the MotoPlex and any/all new venues, etc.. Because, unless we're all willing to start paying more taxes, it's going to get worse before it gets better.

[MedicMudder]

POLITICIANS SUCK!!! DEMS-REPUBS ALLOF THEM. Bet they  did not cut funding to feed,house illegal aliens.Or art programs to pay for ugly art in front of Government buildings!!!!

[zman03]

one word says it all TYPICAL!!!!! This comes as no surprise!!!!   I would also like to say that it has been years that south Florida with one of the highest populations of off-road vehicles in the state, STILL DOES NOT HAVE A LEGAL PLACE DESIGNATED TO RECREATE!!!   and the DADE/Collier Transition airport site is a PIPE DREAM to keep the enthusiast quiet, for awhile anyway.  The truth is the NEW Marlins stadium will be built before there is EVER a place in south Florida to ride an ATV!!!!!!!!!!!

[renmus]

Yesterday we had the quarterly meeting of the OHV Recreation Advisory Committee.  What we learned was horrible. The legislature in an attempt to balance the budget "swept" all of the money from the T. Mark Schmidt Trust fund. Thia amounted to them taking 2.4 million this year and 2 million last year.  Included in this was $700,000 that we had awarded in grants in April.  The major problem is that while this is a trust fund, the legislature has the right to do this to every trust fund every year.

The voices of the ATV community need to be heard.  Everyone must call every legislature they know and let them know that when this was setup, it had a purpose, and it was being used for that purpose.  Call them now, call them often, and don't give up.

Terry

Terry, who were the key leaders in the legislature that controlled this sweep.  I would rather complain right to the source.

[GrizzlyBear]

I will find out.  Larry Cretal is the head and he is in Ocala.  I am going to see him next week.

[ScooterB]

Terry, I would assume that this means no grant monies for the 200 acre park in Bartow ?

[GrizzlyBear]

the Bartow (Polk County)  project was funded last year.  Jack Terrell indicated they have closed on the land and are using the money the county set aside to buy it (the State paid for the land) for engineering.  This project looks good.

[lswjth2]

The state raided the OHV fund but it's proposing to give the Defenders of Wildlife 9 Million to put up a fence!Look in the atv activist area. i posted this up this morning with the document...

[wheelie_boy]

but im already out of breath..

[mrbones]

We always get the short end of the stick. In this case, no stick at all.

[renmus]

not true Bones, I think it is the long end of the stick, and I don't like where they have put it!