Arizona Representative Sonny Borrelli is sponsoring legislation to restore funding to the State Lake Improvement Fund. Money was transferred out of SLIF to Arizona State Parks when state revenues declined sharply in 2008. House Bill 2149 requires money deposited in the SLIF fund to be used exclusively for improvements to lakes and rivers.
“SLIF is a force multiplier,” Borrelli said. “Improvements to boat ramps and docks along our rivers and lakes directly impacts state reveneus. These amenities in turn attract more out-of-state visitors.”
Borrelli added that restoring funding to SLIF also shifts responsibility and control for many water amenities back to local jurisdictions.
SLIF offers lake and river communities grants that fund the maintenance and construction of docks, ramps and other amenities. The grants are funded with a percentage of watercraft registration fees and gas taxes attributable to watercraft. Project selection is competitive.
Lake Havasu, which is located in Rep. Borrelli’s district, accommodates more than 300,000 boats every year, which in turn provides 50 percent of SLIF’s revenues. As Arizona’s economy rebounds and out-of-state visitors return to Lake Havasu for spring break and other holidays, the city would like to make improvements like pagodas and walking trails along the beach areas of the lake.
HB 2149 passed the House Agriculture and Water Committee Tuesday, Feb. 11. The legislation is supported by the County Supervisors Association of Arizona, Arizona Association of Counties, and League of Arizona Cities & Towns among others. It will be heard next by the House Committee of the Whole.