HomeMy WebLinkAboutnielsenSTATE CAPITOL
RO. BOX 942849
SACRAMENTO, CA 94249-ODD2
{916) 319-2002
FAX (916) 319-21 D2
DISTRICT aFF1CE
280 HEMSTED DRIVE, SUITE 110
REDDING, CA 96002
(530) 223-fi300
FAX (530) 223.6737
EMAIL
assemb3ymember.nielsen~assembly.ca.gov
Maly 10, 2o1z
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GYM NIELSEN
ASSEMeLYMEMBER, SECOND DISTRICT
The Honorable Steve Lambert, Chair
Butte County Board of Supervisors
25 County Center Drive
Oroville, CA 95965
Dear Supervisor Lambert,
COMMITTEES
VICE CWAIR, $UDGEr
APPROPRIATIONS
RULES
~~~
~UL 12 2012
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Thank you far your recent letter regarding the Butte County Board of Supervisors opposition to SB 1018
which was a 2012 budget trailer bill that, among a number of things, shifts funds from the Motor
Vehicle Fuel Account prior to deposit into the Off-Highway Vehicle Trust Fund ~OHVTF) to the State
Parks and Recreation Fund. I voted no on this measure when it came before me on the Assembly Floor.
State Parks intends to use the additional revenues to pay the otherwise unfunded costs of operating
parks and protecting resources for future generations. i have long opposed these efforts to divert OHV
funding to other budget obligations. I firmly believe that there must be a strong nexus between the
OHV fees that consumers pay and the project or staff position that they fund. OHV users reasonably
expect that the fees they pay will be used to maintain motorized OHV trails and nothing else.
Compounding my opposition to this effort is the fact that State Parks staff positions have grown from
3247 positions in 2001 to 4094 today. Along with this staff growth, State Parks continues to purchase
more and more open space when it says it can't manage the current state park infrastructure that it
owns and operates.
I continue to believe that parks can and should betaken off the chopping block without additional
gimmicks such as stealing funds from successful operating park units to fund others. We do not need to
continue the pattern of raiding special funds, like the OHV fund or Harbors and Watercraft Revolving
Fund to backfili other completely separate state priorities. I have and will continue to promote~;.the idea
of public-private partnerships as a viable way to ensure all state parks remain open and in most cases
are operated more effectively.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me regarding this important issue. It is an honor to
serve you in the State Assembly. Feel free to contact me at my Capitol Office if I can be of any
assistance to you or your colleagues.
Sincerely,
. /~'
NIELSEN
ssemblyman, 2"d District
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