Committee advances $5 snowmobile rental fee to fund trail grooming

The Montana House Fish and Wildlife Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 165, which would add a $5 trail enhancement fee to each snowmobile rented from a Montana-licensed vendor and direct the money to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) snowmobile program for trail and equipment maintenance.

Senator Barry Usher, sponsor of the bill and a Republican representing Senate District 19, told the committee that “the Montana snowmobiling program can no longer keep up with the grooming of trails for safe snowmobiling and high tourist areas” and that snowmobiling “is greater than a hundred million dollar business annually.”

The bill would require rental vendors to remit the $5 fee monthly to the FWP snowmobile program manager. FWP would use the funds “for operations of the trail grooming program including but not limited to repairs for grooming vehicles,” according to the sponsor’s description to the committee.

Proponents from the Montana Snowmobile Association and rental operators said the fee would target the areas most affected by rental traffic. Fred Bailey, president of the Montana Snowmobile Association, said, “Montana has 4,000 miles of groomed trails, and we have 26 clubs that maintain those trails.” Connie Walter, vice president of the association, told the committee the fee is “important to the safety of the snowmobile trails in Montana,” citing rough trail conditions, inexperienced visitors and collisions.

Jason Howell, who identified himself as speaking for five West Yellowstone rental operators, said voluntary donations by rental companies had existed but that the fee would “really enhance and put some teeth into the other commercial use that’s happening across the state.” Rick David, Flathead Snowmobile Association groomer chairman, described equipment costs and heavy user days from large rental fleets.

FWP staff told the committee the department would collect the fees and distribute them as part of FWP’s regular grant allocation process. Beth Shumate, parks and outdoor recreation assistant administrator with FWP, said the agency already administers grant allocations for the 26 snowmobile clubs and would “absorb this additional funding and put that as a part of our regular grant allocation process that we do in coordination with the snowmobile advisory committee.”

Committee members asked financial and operational questions. Bailey told the committee the existing grooming program receives about $540,000 from gas tax revenue and that the fiscal note prepared by FWP estimated the new fee would generate about $380,000 annually if enacted.

The committee took executive action and advanced the bill to the House floor by voice vote with proxy votes recorded; committee leadership announced the advancement as unanimous. Committee records show Representative Oblander was identified as the floor sponsor to carry the bill.

Supporters said the fee is designed to return money to the local clubs where rental activity occurs and to preserve trails used by motorized and nonmotorized users. Opposing testimony was not recorded during the hearing.

Senate Bill 165 will next be scheduled for floor action in the House, with a House member named as the carry sponsor.