The Real Sno-Pal

Earlier this week Senator Aubertine responded to a couple of concerns this blog has been pursuing, the ATV issue and snowmobile trail fund sweep.

However, Senator Aubertine addressed his concerns to the Division of Budget, who are simply the agency executing the decision and the letter should have more appropriately been addressed to Governor Paterson. The Governor is a fellow democrat and Aubertine should be able to persuade him to rightfully restore the funds.

Senator Aubertine should put action behind his words and demonstrate to people that he is serious and it is not political pander. Here is a bill in the Senate that he should be a sponsor on, it will prevent sweeping of funds such as the case with the snowmobile trail funds.

You will note in a portion of the press release printed below from Senator Maziarz that he addressed a fellow policy maker, the Governor.

Senator George Maziarz (R-C, Newfane) today decried a recent move by the Division of the Budget to transfer $1,000,000 from the Snowmobile Trail Development Management Account into the state's General Fund.

"This action undermines the credibility of the trail fund, violates a public trust, and will devastate our ability to adequately and safely maintain the state trail system," wrote Senator Maziarz in a letter to Governor David Paterson. "As a consequence this action will jeopardize the impact snowmobiling will have on the upstate winter economy."

SPONSORS MEMO:
NEW YORK STATE SENATE
INTRODUCER'S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT
submitted in accordance with Senate Rule VI. Sec 1

BILL NUMBER: S7976

SPONSOR: MAZIARZ

TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to prohibiting the transfer
of unexpended moneys from funds receiving moneys from a dedicated fee into any
other fund

PURPOSE:
To prevent the transfer of funds from accounts that are specifically supported
with a dedicated fee.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends the state finance law by adding a new section stating that fees
collected to support a specific fund will only be expended for that specific purpose.

Section two - effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:
Various funds exist in the state budget to support specific activities of all New Yorkers
such as land conservation, fishing and hunting and maintenance of trails throughout the state.
Fees supporting such funds are paid with the understanding that the state will dedicate the
total revenues derived from these fees to the payment of expenses directly related to the
specific activity for which the fees were collected.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

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