Bill would ensure ORV sticker funds stay local

A proposal introduced to the Idaho Legislature on Tuesday would let off-road vehicle sticker fee funds return to the county of the riders' choice rather than be distributed by the state.

The House Transportation and Defense Committee unanimously agreed to have the bill proposed by Rep. Kathleen Sims, R-Coeur d'Alene, printed.

"There's more than $140,000 (in annual ORV sticker fee funds from Kootenai County) every year, and we're lucky if we get $40,000 of it back to maintain our trails," Sims said. "We want to bring the money back locally for our own programs and recreational sports."

The proposal is to make the ORV program the same as it is for boats and snowmobiles, in which 85 percent of the funding is returned to the counties and 15 percent is for administration.

ORV riders must purchase for each vehicle a $12 sticker that expires on Dec. 31 each year regardless of when it was purchased.

Under Sims' proposal, riders will be able to designate which county they want to receive the funding. There are 11,800 ORVs in Kootenai County.

Sims, who owns the Coeur d'Alene Honda auto and motorcycle dealership, said the state and U.S. Forest Service haven't been able to keep up with trail maintenance in North Idaho.

"From the Clearwater to the Canadian border, there's only one operator and there's thousands of miles of trails," Sims said. "Even the Forest Service has asked us to do it locally to clean the trails so they don't get closed. Our riders are worried about losing them."

Local ORV clubs have volunteered hundreds of hours of time working on the trails, she said.

Sims said she was approached by local ORV riders and clubs about the proposal.

Committee members were provided a University of Idaho study on the financial impact of the ORV sport in each county.

Sims said she expects the bill will have a hearing next week. Co-sponsors of the proposal are Rep. Don Cheatham, R-Post Falls, and Rep. Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton.