Racer277
08-18-2005, 10:37 PM
without representation.
I fawking hate government pukes.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20050817-2109-offroad.html
These aholes always wonder why I run from them... :burningm:
SACRAMENTO In a blistering report, California's auditor revealed Wednesday that the state Department of Parks and Recreation has spent millions of dollars collected from off-road enthusiasts with little to show for those who put up the money.
Auditor Elaine Howle found that the state has committed $38 million to buy three parcels of land that "offer little or no" benefit to the off-roaders who pay registration fees and state gas taxes.
Howle also accused the agency that oversees off-road programs of lax oversight of millions of dollars in grants, of at least 80 examples of jiggering contracts to avoid open bidding and regulatory oversight, and of misappropriations that included chartering private aircraft and paying for articles that were never published.
The state Department of Parks and Recreation agreed with most of the findings, but officials stressed that the most egregious miscues occurred a few years ago under a deputy director who has left the agency. Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman said that while he accepted most of the report's conclusions, the state's land acquisition program is justified.
Parks Director Ruth Coleman "has said fix it make it right. We intend to do just that," said Roy Stearns, a department spokesman. "It's a good program. It just needs a mid-course correction."
However, several appointed commissioners who set policy for the program submitted independent responses, reflecting deep divisions on a board that Howle said lacks "a shared vision." Some commissioners agreed; others said the split represents the public's division over off-road use.
State Sen. Bill Morrow, who lobbied for the audit, and off-road enthusiasts praised the report.
Morrow, R-Oceanside, had endured accusations that his pursuit of an audit was in retribution for a 1996 run-in with a parks ranger after being caught doing "doughnuts" tight circles at high speeds in a four-wheel drive vehicle that sported special Assembly plates.
"There are a lot of people who feel vindicated. Their suspicions have been confirmed," Morrow said. "In many respects, the division got its hand caught in the till, bureaucratically speaking."
He said he has been particularly troubled over the agency's use of fees and taxes to buy land for other purposes.
One parcel in Sacramento County would be used as a buffer, but it is four miles from the nearest off-road park. Another parcel in Kern County could potentially be used to expand existing federal off-road area, but no formal park for off-roading is planned. A third parcel in Riverside County would mitigate off-highway vehicle damage to the environment, but only a tiny part would be open to off-roaders.
The Sacramento County parcel has been bought; the other two are still under consideration, but money has been set aside for their purchase.
"The off-road people had their pockets picked," Morrow said.
One of those is Jim McGarvie of El Cajon, who is vice president of the Off-Road Vehicle Association.
McGarvie said he only had time for a cursory review, but said what gnaws at him most are the land acquisitions and the thought of paying extra fees for programs that do not directly benefit the sport.
"To see this $38 million spent on projects that is not going to help off-roaders is frustrating," he said.
Parks officials defend their land-buying strategy, saying buffers and open space are necessary to ease pressure on existing parks. For example, urban encroachment forced the state to shrink the size of the off-road park near Hollister.
The sport is soaring in popularity, putting more pressure on the eight off-road parks scattered across the state, including Ocotillo Wells and Heber Dunes east of San Diego.
Californians bought 900,681 decals required for off-road vehicles this year more than double the number sold in 2000. Last year, the state recorded 3.84 million visits to the eight off-road parks. Off-roaders pay about $50 million a year between the registration fee of $25 every two years and through the state gas tax, according to state figures.
The audit noted that after 13 years, a nearly $600,000 grant to Los Angeles County has apparently still not been accounted for, among many other financial irregularities, such as shifting $3.6 million to parks that ban off-road use.
Just as critical, Howle pointed out, the oversight commission and department must develop a "single vision, one set of values and similar goals" to make the program effective.
I fawking hate government pukes.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20050817-2109-offroad.html
These aholes always wonder why I run from them... :burningm:
SACRAMENTO In a blistering report, California's auditor revealed Wednesday that the state Department of Parks and Recreation has spent millions of dollars collected from off-road enthusiasts with little to show for those who put up the money.
Auditor Elaine Howle found that the state has committed $38 million to buy three parcels of land that "offer little or no" benefit to the off-roaders who pay registration fees and state gas taxes.
Howle also accused the agency that oversees off-road programs of lax oversight of millions of dollars in grants, of at least 80 examples of jiggering contracts to avoid open bidding and regulatory oversight, and of misappropriations that included chartering private aircraft and paying for articles that were never published.
The state Department of Parks and Recreation agreed with most of the findings, but officials stressed that the most egregious miscues occurred a few years ago under a deputy director who has left the agency. Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman said that while he accepted most of the report's conclusions, the state's land acquisition program is justified.
Parks Director Ruth Coleman "has said fix it make it right. We intend to do just that," said Roy Stearns, a department spokesman. "It's a good program. It just needs a mid-course correction."
However, several appointed commissioners who set policy for the program submitted independent responses, reflecting deep divisions on a board that Howle said lacks "a shared vision." Some commissioners agreed; others said the split represents the public's division over off-road use.
State Sen. Bill Morrow, who lobbied for the audit, and off-road enthusiasts praised the report.
Morrow, R-Oceanside, had endured accusations that his pursuit of an audit was in retribution for a 1996 run-in with a parks ranger after being caught doing "doughnuts" tight circles at high speeds in a four-wheel drive vehicle that sported special Assembly plates.
"There are a lot of people who feel vindicated. Their suspicions have been confirmed," Morrow said. "In many respects, the division got its hand caught in the till, bureaucratically speaking."
He said he has been particularly troubled over the agency's use of fees and taxes to buy land for other purposes.
One parcel in Sacramento County would be used as a buffer, but it is four miles from the nearest off-road park. Another parcel in Kern County could potentially be used to expand existing federal off-road area, but no formal park for off-roading is planned. A third parcel in Riverside County would mitigate off-highway vehicle damage to the environment, but only a tiny part would be open to off-roaders.
The Sacramento County parcel has been bought; the other two are still under consideration, but money has been set aside for their purchase.
"The off-road people had their pockets picked," Morrow said.
One of those is Jim McGarvie of El Cajon, who is vice president of the Off-Road Vehicle Association.
McGarvie said he only had time for a cursory review, but said what gnaws at him most are the land acquisitions and the thought of paying extra fees for programs that do not directly benefit the sport.
"To see this $38 million spent on projects that is not going to help off-roaders is frustrating," he said.
Parks officials defend their land-buying strategy, saying buffers and open space are necessary to ease pressure on existing parks. For example, urban encroachment forced the state to shrink the size of the off-road park near Hollister.
The sport is soaring in popularity, putting more pressure on the eight off-road parks scattered across the state, including Ocotillo Wells and Heber Dunes east of San Diego.
Californians bought 900,681 decals required for off-road vehicles this year more than double the number sold in 2000. Last year, the state recorded 3.84 million visits to the eight off-road parks. Off-roaders pay about $50 million a year between the registration fee of $25 every two years and through the state gas tax, according to state figures.
The audit noted that after 13 years, a nearly $600,000 grant to Los Angeles County has apparently still not been accounted for, among many other financial irregularities, such as shifting $3.6 million to parks that ban off-road use.
Just as critical, Howle pointed out, the oversight commission and department must develop a "single vision, one set of values and similar goals" to make the program effective.