At the suggestion of the California State Assembly, the state
might divert $27 million from the Off-Highway Vehicle Trust Fund to
the state’s general fund – effectively gutting the OHV program and
its eight state parks across California, including the popular
Hollister Hills.
At the suggestion of the California State Assembly, the state might divert $27 million from the Off-Highway Vehicle Trust Fund to the state’s general fund – effectively gutting the OHV program and its eight state parks across California, including the popular Hollister Hills.
The cuts to the OHV fund are one of many proposals considered by a budget committee of California lawmakers to help fill a $26.6 billion budget shortfall. Gov. Jerry Brown has given a March 10 deadline to come up with a budget and allow California voters to decide on an extension of taxes in June.
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors was told the news during the Feb. 22 meeting by Jeff Gaffney, Hollister Hills State Vehicle Recreation Area superintendent. In a quick decision – taking only a few hours – county staff drafted a letter to Brown to recommend preventing the budget committee from re-directing the money.
“Lets fight for this one,” Supervisor Anthony Botelho said.
The originally proposed plan would cause a 40 percent reduction of Hollister Hills’ budget and would force the park to change its availability to the public, Gaffney said. Since its original proposal, the total cuts and their origins have fluctuated between multiple different ideas – but the original proposal is still on the table.
The fund is self-sustained by the parks users, Gaffney said. Using a “green sticker” tax, users must pay for the right to use off-road vehicles on the parks. The trust fund receives no money from the state and the total operating budget of the eight state parks in more than $58 million.
Operating on a $3 million budget, the proposed reduction would eliminate around $1.2 million from Hollister Hills’ budget, Gaffney said. The loss of funding would cause extensive restructuring on how the park is run.
The closure of the park, described as an “economic anchor to San Benito County,” would further “deteriorate” the economy in the county, according to the letter to the governor. The park generates $11 million in annual expenditures for the county.
During the state’s assembly and senate meeting on the budget Thursday, members expressed interest in taking money from a different portion of the OHV fund that wouldn’t affect the parks’ operating budget. The assembly proposed targeting the Off-Highway Grant Fund instead.
The grant fund sends millions of dollars to local governments and business – including San Benito County, Gaffney said. More than $100,000 is directed to the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, and additional money was sent to Clear Creek when it was open.
“A lot of programs rely on that money,” Gaffney said. “The money helps out a lot of people and programs.”
But as of Monday, the assembly and senate budget committee has yet to come to a decision on what they are going to do.
“We have no idea what to expect,” Gaffney said. “I’m watching it 24 hours a day.”
If the budget committee does divert the funds, Gaffney wouldn’t be surprised if a lawsuit was quick to follow, he said.
“They have sued before and won,” he said.
Referring to the state constitution, Gaffney said the trust fund is taxed money for a definitive cause – the OHV parks. The use of the money for other programs could be considered illegal, he said.
Regardless, cuts to the park would be devastating, and would greatly affect the amount of money the park brings to the county, Gaffney said.
Botelho said he couldn’t believe the state was considering taking money for the program.
“Why cut a park that is actually bringing in enough money to support itself?” Bothelo said. “This county has been hard hit – the closure of Clear Creek, the closure of San Justo – and we cannot tolerate another park being closed or downsized.”
The rest of the board agreed unanimously.
“They buy gas, they buy pizza, they spend money here,” Supervisor Jerry Muenzer said of the park’s users. “It’s very important that we show support.”
Supervisors Robert Rivas and Margie Barrios hoped the county’s citizens would call the local assembly and senate representatives to help prevent the elimination of funds.
“It would be very damaging for this county and the state needs to know that,” Barrios said.
Excerpt from county’s letter to Gov. Jerry Brown:
“The County’s partnership with Hollister Hills mirrors President Obama’s “America Great Outdoors” campaign, touting OHV recreation and its significant economic contribution. Please reevaluate the Assembly Budget Committee’s recommendation to divert funding from the OHV Trust Fund into a General Fund that will not return dollars to the local economy. This will hit San Benito County twice, eliminate dollars contributed to the County outside of the State’s General Fund and reducing the economic viability of a park that brings in a quarter of a million visitors each year.”
The county also noted:
-Hollister Hills SVRA draws 250,00 visitors from within and outside San Benito County annually
-Revenue generated in San Benito County by the 250,000 visitors totals $11.4 million annually.
-The proposed reduction will mean the possible lay off of approximately 35 employees, all residents of San Benito County, compounding the unemployment rate.
-Hollister Hills and the OHV program contribute $200,000 a year to San Benito County in direct support (of) the parks and Recreation Commission, Law Enforcement, road repairs and Emergency Medical Services.
