MAINTAINING MINNESOTA’S SNOWMOBILE TRAILS
Through the efforts of snowmobile volunteers across the state, Minnesotans and visitors alike enjoy over 20,000 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. The maintenance of approximately 90% of these trails is the responsibility of snowmobile clubs and Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association (MnUSA) volunteers. MnUSA is the statewide organization that supports the clubs and volunteers as the voice at the legislature, promoting positive legislation to protect, enhance and fund our trail system. MnUSA depends upon membership dues to fund these activities.
MnUSA provides answers to the following frequently asked questions about trail building, maintenance and grooming and snowmobile trail funding in Minnesota.
What roles do volunteer snowmobile clubs play in creating and maintaining Minnesota snowmobile trails?
- Clubs map, design, construct, mark, groom and maintain approximately 18,000 miles of trails.
- Clubs provide the culverts, bridges, signage, trail maps, etc.
- Clubs obtain permits from land owners to use their land for the trail system.
- Clubs purchase their own grooming equipment.
- Club volunteers use their own equipment such as chain saws, tools, ATV’s, etc. for trail maintenance work. What role does the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) play in maintaining snowmobile trails?
- DNR administers the grants for funding. These grants provide financial assistance to the clubs as a reimbursement program. Locally controlled trails can then exist where none have before.
- DNR constructs, grooms and maintains approximately 2,000 miles of the approximately 20,000 mile snowmobile trail system. Do snowmobile clubs receive any reimbursement for the creation and maintenance of Minnesota’s snowmobile trails?
- Only 65 percent of equipment use and labor for snowmobile trail maintenance is reimbursed to the clubs through grants.
- Equipment use and labor used for grooming the trails is reimbursed at 90 percent.
- The portions not reimbursed are paid for by the clubs through fundraisers, donations, charitable gambling, etc. Where does funding for snowmobile trails come from?
- Funding comes from snowmobile registration and 1 percent of unrefunded gas tax which is the tax paid on gas purchased by snowmobilers for non-highway use. This money is deposited in a dedicated snowmobile account to pay for snowmobile trails, enforcement and DNR administration.
What role can I, as a snowmobiler, have in protecting and maintaining the trails?
- Join a club. For information on snowmobile clubs in your area, contact the MnUSA office or visit MnUSA on the web at www.mnsnowmobiler.org - MnUSA Clubs
- Join MnUSA. For information on how to join, contact the MnUSA office or click on "Join Us" above.
- Vote for candidates that support snowmobiling and recreational access to public lands
Snowmobile Trail Funding History
During the winter of 1996-97, the snowmobile system experienced a funding crisis. There was not enough funding to groom trails throughout the winter - there was a lot of snow and a lot of snowmobiling. In addition, a high number of accidents during that winter focused public and legislative attention on snowmobiling and the snowmobile trail system.
In response to the crisis, legislation provided an increase in funding from three sources - a ¼ of 1% increase in the amount of unrefunded gas tax the dedicated account received, a $600,000 annual appropriation from the general fund in recognition that the benefits the state receives from snowmobiling are experienced by more than just snowmobilers, and an increase in snowmobile registration from $33 for three years to $47 every three years. In addition, an emergency grooming appropriation was made.
These sources of money provided the dollars needed to bring the approximate 2500 miles of existing unfunded trails into the grant-in-aid system and to provide modernization trail projects statewide.
After fiscal year 2000-01, the additional gas tax was to be eliminated as was the general fund appropriation. With a concerted effort in the 2001 legislative session by grass roots snowmobilers and clubs organized by MnUSA, the legislature passed a bill to continue the 1% gas tax. This was a great victory! The additional funds will go to the trails but with the constantly increasing costs, additional funds are still needed.
Present Funding System
Currently approximately $10 million is appropriated annually from the snowmobile account for the development, maintenance and operation of the state snowmobile system. Approximately $5 million is needed to run the grant programs to the clubs in an average winter under the current system of reimbursement. If there is exceptional snow, additional funds are needed. (An additional $1 million was required to groom the trails in the 1996-97 season). An additional $5 million is appropriated to the DNR for enforcement, state trails and management of the snowmobile account.
- Clubs are reimbursed for operating groomers at approximately $49/hour when actual costs are more than $90/hour. An increase in reimbursement to the clubs has been requested. Additional funds are needed to support the requested increase. A portion of the requested increase was awarded with the increase in unrefunded gas tax.
- During the 2002 Legislative Session, MnUSA requested that funds be appropriated from the snowmobile account to add approximately 2500 miles of trails funded through local volunteer snowmobile clubs to the grant system. The funds were available in the snowmobile account due to the increase in unrefunded gas tax and the increased number of registered snowmobiles. Many of these locally funded trails are in the western part of the state and these areas benefit greatly from the economic impact of the growth of winter tourism.
Minnesota’s snowmobile trail system is the backbone of winter tourism in the state. With a present grant-in-aid trail budget of $5 million going to the clubs to build and maintain approximately 90% of the trails, a conservative $150 million is generated in tourism dollars. Snowmobiling is an important industry to Minnesota and adequate funding is necessary to provide the trails.
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