24 SSTP CONTINUED Grooming There were a total of 110 grooming contracts during the 2016/17 snowmobile season. There were 98 contracts with VAST clubs and 12 contracts with grooming contractors. The total grooming budget for the 2016/17 season was $1,750,000. The VAST clubs and contractors received their grooming start-up funds during the month of November as usual. The start-up payments were equal to 12.5 percent of the clubs/contractors grooming contract cap, which is calculated by multiplying the club/contractors contract mileage by the contract rate by the contract weeks and multiplying this number by two grooms per week. The total figure for start-up payments for the 2065-2017 season was $272,164. The first round grooming payment totaled $81,539 and covered grooming between December 15 and January 22. For comparison the first round grooming payment was sent out to only four clubs for a total of $7,363 during the winter of 2015-2016. The total for second round grooming payments was $393,730. This payment covered grooming activity for weeks 6-10 (January 23rd through February 26th). The third and final grooming payments were mailed out to clubs/contractors that had submitted all 16 of their grooming log sheets along with their financial analysis in May. There were two clubs who did not submit their grooming log sheets or financial analysis by the deadline and as a result will not receive their grooming payment this season. The total amount paid for the third round of grooming payments was $439,473. A total of $1,186,906 was paid out in grooming for the winter. 41 clubs and contractors received a grooming subsidy. The subsidy amount paid was $83,342.29. Year Grooming Budget Grooming Payments Actual/Budget % Special Notes 2001-02 $1,200,000 $767,568 64% 2002-03 $1,200,000 $1,133,076 94% 2003-04 $1,500,000 $1,186,700 79% 2004-05 $1,600,000 $1,183,131 74% 2005-06 $1,800,000 $925,733 51% 2006-07 $1,800,000 $1,133,000 63% 2007-08 $1,800,000 $1,961,894 108% 2008-09 $1,585,000 $1,465,080 92% 2009-10 $1,585,000 $1,160,000 73% 2010-11 $1,900,000 $1,764,557 93% 2011-12 $1,639,111 $956,368 58% 2012-13 $1,650,000 $1,110,195 67% 2013-14 $1,650,000 $1,372,170 83% Includes $38,426.98 subsidy & Approx. $14,354.83 left to pay to 12 clubs missing paperwork 2014-15 $1,882,445 $1,821,009 97% Includes 10 clubs paid over grooming cap for total of $40,917.64 2015-16 $1,800,000 $1,071,050 60% Subsidies paid to all grooming clubs and contractors. Three clubs/contractors forfeited their payment. 2016-17 $1,750,000 $1,186,906 68% Subsidies paid to 41 clubs and contractors for a total of $83,342.29. Two clubs/contractors forfeited their payment. 16 Yr Total $26,341,556 $20,198,436 77% (Average) Grooming Budget/Payments