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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TODAY: 6/26/08
Contact: Suzanne Redmond (315) 255-3045
FINCH STANDS UP FOR RESTORATION OF SNOWMOBILE FUND
Assemblyman Gary D. Finch (R,C - Springport) today joined colleagues in
calling on Governor Paterson to return $1 million to the
Snowmobile Trail Development and Maintenance Fund.
Earlier this year, $1 million was taken from the fund
and moved into the general fund of the state budget. Snowmobilers
have created an uproar about the apparent theft of these funds and while
hundreds of petitions signed by snowmobilers across New York were
returned to the Executive Chamber, this year's session has ended with no
resolution to the issue.
"The snowmobile fund was created to maintain trails and
ensure that snowmobilers are properly educated, and it is time for the
money, which was paid for by snowmobilers, to be returned to its
rightful place," said Finch.
Finch and his colleagues supported legislation that
would have returned the money back to its rightful place, as well as
require the Commissioner of Parks to file an annual report to the
legislature accounting for all funds disbursed from the fund, thus
insuring the money is spent properly. However, the bill failed to pass
before session came to a close.
"Snowmobiling is very important for tourism in New
York, and the fact that the state increased registration fees and then
stole the money from right under the noses of snowmobilers is completely
unacceptable," Finch stated. "This is just another in a chain of events
undermining the public's trust of state government. We must act to
restore this fund immediately."
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