The Idaho legislature is sending the governor a bill that would increase the sticker fees for people who own snowmobiles.For Idaho residents, the annual cost of a snowmobile use certificate would go from $32.50 to $45.50. For non-residents, the cost goes from $32.50 to $59.50. Rental fees would go from $62.50 to $75.50.
The money raised goes to groom trails and maintain public facilities used by snowmobilers and it helps to fund backcountry snowmobile rescue teams. The state would also create a new fund to pay for avalanche programs, from education to rescue teams.
Rep. Ilana Rubel [D-Boise] says the fee increase was requested by snowmobiling groups and is lower than originally proposed.
“They support this amount, but they would like to increase even more because I guess they want their trails maintained and they have safety concerns about being rescued during avalanches. So if they want better trails and they want to be safer on those trails and they want to pay for it, God bless, I say. So I hope you’ll give this your green light," she said.
That’s what the House did on Monday, by a 40-to-28 vote. The Senate has already approved it, so it should be off to the governor’s desk.