BLM PLANS TO RAISE FEES @ LITTLE SAHARA! -PLEASE READ-

MR. KRYPTONITE · 2009-12-14 11:06:09

BLM PLANS TO RAISE FEES @ LITTLE SAHARA!

TAKEN FROM KSL NEWS!!!
"JUAB COUNTY -- Federal officials are proposing a hefty increase in fees at one of Utah's most popular recreation areas.

Depending on which plan you choose, it could nearly double the cost of racing around on the Little Sahara sand dunes.

To some degree, we've all been subsidizing the recreation at Little Sahara whether we go there or not. That's because the place loses money. The shortfall has to be made up by U.S. taxpayers. That's what officials hope to change.

Motorsports enthusiasts flock to Little Sahara, especially on holiday weekends. This year nearly 300,000 people went. Next year the feds want them to pay more for the privilege.

It costs money to run the place for staff, utilities, toilets, camping facilities and other services. However, visitors have not been paying enough to keep it in the black. So the Bureau of Land Management is proposing a significant increase.

"What we're trying to do is kind of pay as we go with our operation out there," said Glenn Carpenter with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. "The new plan is to try to get the revenue that we generate to approximately match the amount that we spend every year. We're not trying to make a lot of money but we are trying to make ends meet."

Under the proposal, the annual vehicle pass would jump from $75 to $120. The one-day pass, which currently costs $8 per vehicle, $10 on holidays, is being scrapped entirely.

Instead there will be a two-day pass for $25, $30 on holidays or a new seven-day pass for $40.

The government does plan to sweeten the deal. Twenty miles of dirt roads in the area will finally get pavement this spring at a cost of $7 million.

Well-publicized crashes this year focused attention on safety issues, especially the crash that killed former Congressman Bill Orton. However, the fee increase will not affect staffing for enforcement and emergencies.

"I think the risks are pretty constant," said Carpenter. "There's additional technology, more horsepower, in some of the vehicles. So they go faster and jump farther. If people exercise some restraint in what it is that they do, then it will still remain a very safe place to go and play."

The BLM is accepting written comments for the next month. The new fee plan is expected to be approved in January and in effect in April."

HERE IS THE ARTICLE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WATCH IT----> http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=9020064

Im looking deeper into this. :evil:
What are we to do......

-Jared

MR. KRYPTONITE · 2009-12-14 11:16:08

I just found out who we need to contact about this issue:

State Director: Selma Sierra
Phone: (801) 539-4010
Fax: (801) 539-4013
E-mail: Selma_Sierra@blm.gov

Please take a moment out of your busy lives and share your feelings and concerns about this issue.

Im going to keep digging...

MR. KRYPTONITE · 2009-12-14 11:21:53

Another place to write/call.

Bureau of Land Management
Utah State Office
440 West 200 South, Suite 500
Salt Lake City, Utah 84145-0155
Phone: (801) 539-4001
TDD: (801) 539-4133
Fax: (801) 539-4013
Public_Room_UT_State_Office@ut.blm.gov

Badley · 2009-12-14 15:26:07

"This year nearly 300,000 people went. Next year the feds want them to pay more for the privilege." Privilage??? Uh emm, it is our land :twisted:

Lets assume 1/2 of them paid a day pass 150,000 x 8 = $ 1,200,000 x 25 = $ 3,750,000
and 1/2 had annual passes 150,000 x 75=$11,250,000 x 120= $18,000,000
Total=$12,450,000 Total=$21,750,000

Anyone have a more scientific method of calc'ing this? Maybe my assumptions are way off, but I see an effort to double their revenue (in typical govt. fashion). Lets us see what the revenue is and where it is spent! How much does it cost it take to take money, build a shitter (dig a hole), patrol the sand, transport the injured, pick up dead bodies, etc. :?: There always seems to be 3-4 BLM people sitting around shooting the sh__ in the visitors center... maybe we should start cutting costs there :idea: Maybe we should stop funding any B.S. research BLM is doing to protect the... umm... are there any animals out there?? Maybe flies The federal Govt. can not run anything efficiently, they just keep wanting more and more money. The refuse to live within a budget like the rest of us, they keep overspending their budget, claiming a "shortfall" and ask for a bigger budget next year. This is just another example of how our Govt. is out of control - we need to take it back!

BTW - what are they going to pave and why??? It is a freaking pile of sand... what does it take to keep it nice - a little wind

Brad777 · 2009-12-14 17:21:12

Heads-Up. This doesn't change the fact that you need to voice your opinion about the proposed BLM recreational fee increase to Little Sahara, but I gave the visitors center a call today and found that we can currently get the 2010 season pass for $75. Ryan and I have to attend a luncheon for our grandmother's 96th birthday Saturday. I'm busy Sunday. Regardless, it might be a good weekend for everyone to go out and get a $75 pass while you can. I will certainly get mine Saturday morning.

This increase is certainly another attack on our right to ride. It is certainly hard to believe that the revenue their already getting doesn't cover costs there. I wonder if the Government is bound to TINA (Truth In Negotiation Act) as government contracting businesses are? (Truth in Government...NOT!)

#1 2009-12-14 11:06:09

Re: BLM PLANS TO RAISE FEES @ LITTLE SAHARA! -PLEASE READ-

#2 2009-12-14 11:16:08

Re: BLM PLANS TO RAISE FEES @ LITTLE SAHARA! -PLEASE READ-

#3 2009-12-14 11:21:53

Re: BLM PLANS TO RAISE FEES @ LITTLE SAHARA! -PLEASE READ-

#4 2009-12-14 15:26:07

Re: BLM PLANS TO RAISE FEES @ LITTLE SAHARA! -PLEASE READ-

#5 2009-12-14 17:21:12

Re: BLM PLANS TO RAISE FEES @ LITTLE SAHARA! -PLEASE READ-

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