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Gold Hills Posse 4×4 Club · Folsom, CA

Proposed Loss of OHV Gas Tax Funds, California Gas Tax and Registration Fee Increases

  1. kris_olof Trailmaster Joined: October 2015
    #18 Feb 2017, 3:28 AM

    AB-1 and SB-1 are currently being drafted and will hit the State Assembly and State Senate this year.  These twin bills plan to create new funding for highways which is currently struggling for funds.  The big issue here is that current language in the bills de-funds the gas tax portion of OHV.  This is a huge issue as the gas tax makes up ~70% of the OHV program budget.

    Additionally the bills will increase the fuel tax by 12 cents per gallon and increase vehicle registrations by 143%.  While I am opposed to these as well, roads cost what they cost. So if the gas/registrations don't cover the highway fund shortfall, some other tax will be increased to pay for it.

    Below is a link to the Cal4wheel synopsis of the bills and a draft letter to send to your rep.  I'm not sure I like the language that they use but it is a good start.  I will post my own version of a response when I get time to think about it.

    http://cal4wheel.com/latest-news/access-issues/769-ohmvr-program-to-lose-gas-tax-funding-registration-fees-to-increase?utm_source=CA4WDA+Updates&utm_campaign=2430d4b5cd-gas-tax-loss-020717&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d30f6c948f-2430d4b5cd-85629365&mc_cid=2430d4b5cd&mc_eid=bd81c17710

  2. Gregulator Member Joined: February 2012
    #28 Feb 2017, 4:23 AM
    😭
    Um...what?
  3. scoped Subscriber
    #38 Feb 2017, 6:54 AM

    143% is ludicrous

  4. Josh Subscriber
    #48 Feb 2017, 7:46 AM
    kris_olof said Additionally the bills will increase the fuel tax by 12 cents per gallon and increase vehicle registrations by 143%. 

    Ouch. That's going to hurt!

    Semper Fi
  5. Gilbert & Betty Member Joined: September 2014
    #58 Feb 2017, 12:09 PM

    And yet an other reason to leave California "The Republic of."🙄😜😠

  6. kris_olof started this Trailmaster Joined: October 2015
    #69 Feb 2017, 2:13 AM
    scoped said 143% is ludicrous  
    Josh said
    kris_olof said Additionally the bills will increase the fuel tax by 12 cents per gallon and increase vehicle registrations by 143%. 

    Ouch. That's going to hurt!  

    Don't get hung up on this part. Roads cost money and you use them.  If there isnt enough money in the highway fund they take it from the general fund and other taxes.

    OHV funding, on the other hand, can disappear and the majority of voters wont care.  OHV funding wont/doesnt get the same general fund distributions that highway fund will.

  7. scoped Subscriber
    #710 Feb 2017, 2:08 AM

    I'm caught up on that part due to the fact an estimated 2 billion plus has been "migrated" from the road fund to who knows where. Plus cal Trans is a failure. This state should be contacting out to private company's - work becomes cheaper and of better quality because if you don't do the job right you don't get the job.

    That being said the OHV thing is very bad but if Cal Trans didn't suck so much and the state didn't steal road fund money it wouldn't be an issue.

    This is why I'm hung up at the "starting point" per say

  8. Guy and Lynda Member Joined: May 2015
    #811 Feb 2017, 7:55 AM

    How about we bring gas in from Nevada?

    How many times is the State going to take funds away from previous funds that were devoted to the highways. If they don't let the roads deteriorate to a point where complete replacement is needed, they wouldn't have to keep finding money.

    The OHV is doomed unless another means of funding comes along. Just like previous gas inititives, a big pot of money seems to be ripe for the taking.

  9. kris_olof started this Trailmaster Joined: October 2015
    #913 Feb 2017, 2:11 AM
    Guy and Lynda said How about we bring gas in from Nevada? How many times is the State going to take funds away from previous funds that were devoted to the highways. If they don't let the roads deteriorate to a point where complete replacement is needed, they wouldn't have to keep finding money.  The OHV is doomed unless another means of funding comes along. Just like previous gas inititives, a big pot of money seems to be ripe for the taking.  

    Unless this is fixed now and the OHV program re-authorized, the state parks will be shut down one-by-one through lawsuits.  The forest service and BLM, who oversee the majority of trails, will have to implement their own "green sticker" program for OHV.  Oregon and Washington have this program and under it every vehicle, even street legal ones, has to get a $15-35 pass per year to operate off road.

  10. Josh Subscriber
    #1013 Feb 2017, 10:59 PM
    kris_olof said

    Unless this is fixed now and the OHV program re-authorized, the state parks will be shut down one-by-one through lawsuits.  The forest service and BLM, who oversee the majority of trails, will have to implement their own "green sticker" program for OHV.  Oregon and Washington have this program and under it every vehicle, even street legal ones, has to get a $15-35 pass per year to operate off road.  

    Another freedom under attack I say.

    Semper Fi
  11. Guy and Lynda Member Joined: May 2015
    #1116 Feb 2017, 12:32 AM
    kris_olof said

    Unless this is fixed now and the OHV program re-authorized, the state parks will be shut down one-by-one through lawsuits.  The forest service and BLM, who oversee the majority of trails, will have to implement their own "green sticker" program for OHV.  Oregon and Washington have this program and under it every vehicle, even street legal ones, has to get a $15-35 pass per year to operate off road.  

    Maybe this is the way to keep the funds from being transferred to the general fund as easily. Gas & other taxes leveed by referendums or propositions seem to be more susceptible, which makes it difficult to keep funds in places where they were originally intended. Arguably, the intentions may be well founded, but ultimately never accounted for, as they just get absorbed & no explanations need to be given. California, what can I say?

  12. davesjk Subscriber
    #1224 Feb 2017, 4:20 PM

    part of the road problem that hasn't been mentioned is the fact that we have so many electric vehicles on the road now that don't purchase gas.  so they use the roads without chipping in

    [¯¯],[¯¯¯¯], l---L--OllllllO¬ ():) ():)-----():) · Its a Gee(p) thing
  13. k-jeep Member Joined: May 2009
    #1312 Jul 2017, 1:33 PM

    My dad showed me this article...

    http://www.mtdemocrat.com/news/new-off-highway-vehicle-legislation-proposed/

  14. Josh Subscriber
    #1412 Jul 2017, 4:37 PM

    Thanks for sharing this Kevin. Informative. I hope the bill fails. We pay taxes. We have a right to enjoy public lands to.

    Semper Fi

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