The Ski Area Fee Retention Act sets up a fund to keep ski area rental fees local, helping improve ski areas and surrounding communities. This ensures that money collected from ski permits is used where it is generated.
Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act This bill allows National Forest System (NFS) units to keep the majority of ski area permit rental fees that were generated within their boundaries and outlines how revenues from those fees may be used. Such fees are collected by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from ski area operators on NFS land. Within the NFS unit where the fees were generated, USDA must expend (1) 60%-48% of the collected fees for activities such as administration of the ski area permit program, visitor information, or reducing the likelihood of wildfire in or adjacent to a recreation site; and (2) 20% of the collected fees for activities such as repair of a Forest Service-owned facility, habitat restoration, or search and rescue activities. The remainder of the collected fees must be expended by USDA at any NFS unit for any of the activities specified in this bill.
1. This bill creates a special account for ski area rental fees. 2. Eighty percent of the fees collected will be spent locally at ski areas. 3. Seventy-five percent of local funds will support activities directly at the ski area. 4. The remaining twenty percent will be used for projects across the National Forest System. 5. The bill allows for adjustments in funding based on local needs.