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Outdoor recreation and state parks seek restricted‑fund increases, fee adjustments and staffing to support trails, boating and seasonal operations
Summary
Division presentations requested restricted‑account appropriations for trail crews, more OHV grant funding, state parks operational and seasonal housing funds, and proposed fee adjustments for OHV permits, snowmobile registration and camping to sustain services and capital projects.
Officials from the Division of Outdoor Recreation and Utah State Parks briefed the appropriations subcommittee on program performance, fee proposals, and restricted‑account requests.
Jason Curry, director of Outdoor Recreation, described a statewide strategic plan with four "cardinal directions" (collaboration, economic and health benefits, education, access while protecting landscapes) and highlighted program outcomes: trail crew outputs (156 trail projects last year), OHV registrations (~248,000 vehicles with 24,000 nonresident permits), education and outreach completions, and grant leverage. Curry requested restricted‑fund building blocks to expand trail crews (to five crews), hire heavy equipment operators and a project manager, and increase annual OHV grant appropriations from the current baseline toward $5 million to sustain the pace of awards.
Curry also outlined proposed fee adjustments that are restricted‑account funded (no general‑fund requests): nonresident OHV permit from $30 to $35, snowmobile registration from $22 to $26 (with reported community support), a $4 replacement fee for lost nonresident OHV permits, and a $5 registration option for small inflatable motorized vessels under 10 feet. He described data and a participation‑trend study that will inform long‑range planning and reported the High Desert trail environmental assessment is underway.
Scott Strong, director of Utah State Parks, reported about 12.5 million park visits annually and outlined capital projects (Utahraptor park development, Snow Canyon entrance upgrades, Bear Lake marina expansion) and a potential new park at Manaway Reservoir (early conception). State Parks requested restricted‑fund appropriations: $1,000,000 for current expenses, $500,000 for seasonal housing to recruit staff, and $2,000,000 (one‑time and ongoing split) if Manaway proceeds. Strong also noted a package of fee proposals across camping, day use and other charges that the division estimates could add restricted revenue.
Why it matters: The divisions requested additional restricted appropriations and fee changes to sustain on‑the‑ground maintenance, boots‑on‑the‑ground trail and boating work, and recruitment of seasonal staff. Committee members asked about restricted‑account balances, the rationale for replacing general fund with restricted funds in some line items, and the customer‑service implications of registration windows and DMV processes for seasonal registrations.
