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06-13-03, 07:18 AM
From the Ohio IMBA Representitve to all Ohio mountain bikers:
Keep the Funds Flowing to Keep the Trails Growing!
Fellow Ohio Mountain Bikers,
As your Ohio IMBA State Representative, I'm sure you are all aware of the state budget debate going on these past few months. Fortunately, our alliance with our Ohio Trails Partners has helped us stay informed on the impacts that could result to Ohio State Parks and Forests. Three budget proposals have been written, one by the Ohio Executive (Governor Taft), one by the Ohio House of Representatives and one by the Ohio Senate. Unfortunately the Ohio House and Senate would not accept either of these proposals which has landed the debate into the hands of the Joint Budget Conference Committee, made up of three Ohio Representatives and three Ohio Senators, to formulate the final budget proposal to be voted on both Ohio Houses and signed by Governor Taft. The discovery of an additional $900 million to $1 billion for FY 04 & 05 has heightened concerns over future cuts.
What does this mean for Ohio's Mountain Bikers?
This means that the time for Ohio Mountain Bikers to contact the Representatives and Senators of the Joint Budget Conference Committee and their local legislators is NOW. The Conference Committee started hearing testimony the morning of June 11, 2003, so we need to phone, e-mail or send letters to the Committee members and local legislators now to show our support for Ohio State Parks and Forests.
In order for Ohio's Mountain Bikers to Maintain and Explore future access to trails in Ohio's State Parks and Forests I advise the to support for the Ohio Senate's Park and Forestry Budget allocations.
What will happen if the funds to Ohio's Parks and Forests are less than the Senate's proposal?
For all Ohio Mountain Bikers who have spoken to their local State Park and Forest managers recently, the budget cuts have made their jobs extremely challenging. Most managers have had to take on additional responsibilities (Ie. over three parks/ forests instead of just one) and our current and future access to trails could be greatly impacted.
My meetings with both Ohio State Park and Forest Divisions have told me of the establishment of "User fees" to "Possible Closures" have been discussed if the budget allocations are less than the Senate's Budget proposal to their divisions. Although I know that some have expressed an openness to "Pay to Play" user fee for use of Ohio State Parks and Forests, I believe it will not create a long term funding answer for the divisions. Other states who have implemented a "Pay to Play" user fee have only been able to break even due to logistical obstacles of building gates, adding employees to those gates and further enforcement of the fees. If Ohio State Parks and Forests were to implement a user fee they would then become exempt from current legal protection against lawsuits under Ohio Revised Code Annotated Title XV: Conservation of Natural Resources Chapter 1533. (See http://www.americanwhitewater.org/resources/repository/Ohio_Recreational_Use_Statute.htm to reference. I believe that if user fees were implemented, Ohio State Parks and Forests would see their trails as creating a risk to the State of Ohio and their Division which would lead to a greater oversight in the development of more challenging mountain bike trails.
What YOU can do?
Phone, e-mail or write those on the Joint Budget Conference Committee and your local legislatures to convey your support of the Ohio Senate's Ohio State Park and Forestry Budget Proposal. This is a Biennium Budget and thus affect 2004 and 2005's budget, starting July 2003. In your conversation, explain what you give to the local trail system(s) including economic impact.
Lets make sure Ohio's Mountain Bike Trails keep growing!
LONG LIVE LONG RIDES!
Matt Ogle
Ohio IMBA State Representative
heyogle@aol.com
614-488-6203
Below is a sample letter you can use to show your support for Ohio State Parks and Forestry. Please use your own words.
The Honorable ___________,
I am an Ohio Mountain Biker and am expressing my support for the Ohio Senate's Park and Forestry Proposal. As a mountain biker, I am involved in maintaining and patrolling Ohio State Parks and Forests' mountain bike trails and feel that my use of those trails will be affected by any further cuts to the Division of Parks and Forestry.
I have personally invested time in Ohio's Mountain Bike trails through the Ohio Mountain Bike Association, whom have donated more than 4000 volunteer hours to Ohio's trails. Working with OMBA's Ohio Trails Partners', the Buckeye Trail Association and Ohio Horseman's Council, we've volunteered in over 20,000 hours to Ohio's trails. Personally I have invested over $500 annually to Ohio's trails. I feel that future budget cuts will result in the implementation of "user fees" and/or possible park/ forest closures which I would not willfully concede to.
Thanking you for your time,
Matt Ogle
Ohio International Mountain Bike Association State Representative
Ohio Mountain Bike Patrol Central Ohio Mountain Biking Organization's Coordinator
Ohio Trails Partnership Mountain Bike Representative
Keep the Funds Flowing to Keep the Trails Growing!
Joint Committee Contacts are as follows:
Representative Charles Calvert, 614-466-8140, district69@ohr.state.oh.us
Representative James Hoops, 614-466-3760, district75@ohr.state.oh.us
Representative Ed Jerse, 614-466-8012, district07@ohr.state.oh.us
Senator Bill Harris, 614-466-8086, SD19@mailr.sen.state.oh.us
Senator Ron Amstutz, 614-466-7505, SD22@mailr.sen.state.oh.us
Senator Eric Fingerhut, 614,466,4583, senatorfingerhut@hotmail.com
To locate your local Ohio Representative's Contact Information:
http://www.house.state.oh.us/jsps/Directory.jsp
To locate your local Ohio Senator's Contact Information:
http://www.senate.state.oh.us/
The mailing address for Representatives is:
The Honorable____________
Ohio House of Representatives
77 S. High Street
Columbus, OH 43266-0603
The mailing address for Senators is:
The Honorable_____________
Ohio Senate
Statehouse
Columbus, OH 43215
Keep the Funds Flowing to Keep the Trails Growing!
Fellow Ohio Mountain Bikers,
As your Ohio IMBA State Representative, I'm sure you are all aware of the state budget debate going on these past few months. Fortunately, our alliance with our Ohio Trails Partners has helped us stay informed on the impacts that could result to Ohio State Parks and Forests. Three budget proposals have been written, one by the Ohio Executive (Governor Taft), one by the Ohio House of Representatives and one by the Ohio Senate. Unfortunately the Ohio House and Senate would not accept either of these proposals which has landed the debate into the hands of the Joint Budget Conference Committee, made up of three Ohio Representatives and three Ohio Senators, to formulate the final budget proposal to be voted on both Ohio Houses and signed by Governor Taft. The discovery of an additional $900 million to $1 billion for FY 04 & 05 has heightened concerns over future cuts.
What does this mean for Ohio's Mountain Bikers?
This means that the time for Ohio Mountain Bikers to contact the Representatives and Senators of the Joint Budget Conference Committee and their local legislators is NOW. The Conference Committee started hearing testimony the morning of June 11, 2003, so we need to phone, e-mail or send letters to the Committee members and local legislators now to show our support for Ohio State Parks and Forests.
In order for Ohio's Mountain Bikers to Maintain and Explore future access to trails in Ohio's State Parks and Forests I advise the to support for the Ohio Senate's Park and Forestry Budget allocations.
What will happen if the funds to Ohio's Parks and Forests are less than the Senate's proposal?
For all Ohio Mountain Bikers who have spoken to their local State Park and Forest managers recently, the budget cuts have made their jobs extremely challenging. Most managers have had to take on additional responsibilities (Ie. over three parks/ forests instead of just one) and our current and future access to trails could be greatly impacted.
My meetings with both Ohio State Park and Forest Divisions have told me of the establishment of "User fees" to "Possible Closures" have been discussed if the budget allocations are less than the Senate's Budget proposal to their divisions. Although I know that some have expressed an openness to "Pay to Play" user fee for use of Ohio State Parks and Forests, I believe it will not create a long term funding answer for the divisions. Other states who have implemented a "Pay to Play" user fee have only been able to break even due to logistical obstacles of building gates, adding employees to those gates and further enforcement of the fees. If Ohio State Parks and Forests were to implement a user fee they would then become exempt from current legal protection against lawsuits under Ohio Revised Code Annotated Title XV: Conservation of Natural Resources Chapter 1533. (See http://www.americanwhitewater.org/resources/repository/Ohio_Recreational_Use_Statute.htm to reference. I believe that if user fees were implemented, Ohio State Parks and Forests would see their trails as creating a risk to the State of Ohio and their Division which would lead to a greater oversight in the development of more challenging mountain bike trails.
What YOU can do?
Phone, e-mail or write those on the Joint Budget Conference Committee and your local legislatures to convey your support of the Ohio Senate's Ohio State Park and Forestry Budget Proposal. This is a Biennium Budget and thus affect 2004 and 2005's budget, starting July 2003. In your conversation, explain what you give to the local trail system(s) including economic impact.
Lets make sure Ohio's Mountain Bike Trails keep growing!
LONG LIVE LONG RIDES!
Matt Ogle
Ohio IMBA State Representative
heyogle@aol.com
614-488-6203
Below is a sample letter you can use to show your support for Ohio State Parks and Forestry. Please use your own words.
The Honorable ___________,
I am an Ohio Mountain Biker and am expressing my support for the Ohio Senate's Park and Forestry Proposal. As a mountain biker, I am involved in maintaining and patrolling Ohio State Parks and Forests' mountain bike trails and feel that my use of those trails will be affected by any further cuts to the Division of Parks and Forestry.
I have personally invested time in Ohio's Mountain Bike trails through the Ohio Mountain Bike Association, whom have donated more than 4000 volunteer hours to Ohio's trails. Working with OMBA's Ohio Trails Partners', the Buckeye Trail Association and Ohio Horseman's Council, we've volunteered in over 20,000 hours to Ohio's trails. Personally I have invested over $500 annually to Ohio's trails. I feel that future budget cuts will result in the implementation of "user fees" and/or possible park/ forest closures which I would not willfully concede to.
Thanking you for your time,
Matt Ogle
Ohio International Mountain Bike Association State Representative
Ohio Mountain Bike Patrol Central Ohio Mountain Biking Organization's Coordinator
Ohio Trails Partnership Mountain Bike Representative
Keep the Funds Flowing to Keep the Trails Growing!
Joint Committee Contacts are as follows:
Representative Charles Calvert, 614-466-8140, district69@ohr.state.oh.us
Representative James Hoops, 614-466-3760, district75@ohr.state.oh.us
Representative Ed Jerse, 614-466-8012, district07@ohr.state.oh.us
Senator Bill Harris, 614-466-8086, SD19@mailr.sen.state.oh.us
Senator Ron Amstutz, 614-466-7505, SD22@mailr.sen.state.oh.us
Senator Eric Fingerhut, 614,466,4583, senatorfingerhut@hotmail.com
To locate your local Ohio Representative's Contact Information:
http://www.house.state.oh.us/jsps/Directory.jsp
To locate your local Ohio Senator's Contact Information:
http://www.senate.state.oh.us/
The mailing address for Representatives is:
The Honorable____________
Ohio House of Representatives
77 S. High Street
Columbus, OH 43266-0603
The mailing address for Senators is:
The Honorable_____________
Ohio Senate
Statehouse
Columbus, OH 43215