Just wondering if the dollars are close to last season or not. Are we under budget or over???

If we are under budget, can fees from this season go to help at the beginning of next season?

If we are over budget, who pays for the short-fall? Where does the money come from?

Alex, I only have the info available from the 1/24/06 TRT meeting. As of then:

Total revenue= $3,427,045 ($2,002,228 from fees)

Expenses = $1,673,651

At that time, YTD revenues exceeded YTD expenses. However, an additional $1M of Revenue for the year was projected for the year as well as an addtional $1.9M of expenses. Without budget cuts or unidentified revenue there was a projected Fiscal Year End shortfall of $34K.

Note that this INCLUDES $913K that has to be obligated or carried over for beginning FY07 costs.

Two sources from the ISDRA TRT Website to get info:
From the Documents Section - Download the File named BudgetFY06 Tracking.xls (requires Excel of OpenOffice Spreadsheet)

From the Audio Recordings of the 1/24/06 TRT meeting - Download and listen to the MP3 file named Track13 ISDRA Budget.


There should be an "end of season" TRT meeting soon. More info will be available after that.

Thank you Glen,

For this season (05/06), up until 1/24/06?

Week passes sold 25,723 year passes 15,094 $1,384,242(after split and CC cost)

Last season (04/05),

Week passes sold 51,642 year passes 13,361 $2,218,241 (after split and CC cost)

Diff. week passes -25,919 year passes 1733 -$833,999

I have a hard time believing we will make up that difference, I hope we do. What does the BLM think or plan?

Interesting, more year passes were sold so far.

Central Parking did an absolutely horrible job at selling passes the last half of last season. More than half the the machines were either missing or broken.

While the ICSO has definately sold more passes and have done a better job than CP, they were not doing as good as was intended. The BLM has noted their concerns, as has the TRT. Lots of attention has been put on this not only directly to the ICSO, including Sheriff Carter, but also to Imperial County (board of Supervisors and the IC CEO).

Although the Fee Program concerns came up during most of the agenda items of the 1/24/06 TRT meeting, there was a specific agenda item for it. From the Audio Recordings of the 1/24/06 meeting download the TWO segments of the agenda item discussions. They are the MP3 files named Track08 Fee Program ICSO part a and Track11 Fee Program ICSO part b.

The ICSO states their progress, concerns, and future plans. The BLM ran through a list of questions and concerns that they had sent to the ICSO in writing. The ICSO answered the ones that they were readily able to. The TRT members also stated their concerns and made recommendations to both the BLM and ICSO.

One of the primary actions the ICSO has to do by next season is to get the Pay Machines purchased and installed securely. (Bids for this should have been received by now)

The next TRT meeting, which again should be soon, will have major discussions about what progress has been made, as well as what needs to be done to be ready for next season.

One thing that will have a impact is that Sheriff Carter is not running for Sheriff again. How big of an impact that will be depends on how he finishes his term, and also who will be elected. Right now there seems to be a lot of confusion between the Sheriff's office and the County execs of what is really happening with the Fee Program.

Maybe this is the source of the rumors that the ISCO has said that they are not interested in doing the pass program next year.

Is there any word on that?
And if they don't, does the BLM have a contengency plan?

Or will they finally admit that it costs more then they are legaly able to pay to collect fees at Glamis... (sorry, I had to add that last part! )

Anyway, is there any truth to the rumors about the ISCO not doing the pass program next year?

All I can say for certain is that there was concern, by BLM, TRT, & ICSO, about whether the the ICSO would be back next season. At the 1/24/06 meeting, they said they were committed to make the effort to do the job as planned over the 5 year agreement.

That being said, Sheriff Carter could decide that he doesn't want ICSO to continue. The County could also not agree with that decision and overide it. Then again, the BLM could terminate the agreement.

Bottom line (as far as I know) is that anything is possible, although I feel it is probable that ICSO will be doing the Fee Program next season. Hopefully in full compliance of the agreement.

Yes, the BLM has worked on a contigency plan. How complete it is, I don't know.

Hey Glen... Have I told you lately that "YOU ROCK!" ?

hehe, seriously, you put up with a ton of crap and it all rolls right off of you and always you are right there with a smile and the correct information.

Wow, I cant believe thet sold twice as many weekly passes last season,(when it was pretty much voluntary, and the machines were usually broken)
Then they did this year, when they had the roadblocks set-up.

That's amazing.

Couldn't agree more

While it is important to look at passes sold, it isn't the big picture. The ISCO has to sell nearly 20% more passes this year to hit the same dollars. ISCO takes home a 30% commission, while I think Central Parking was like 9%?

Some thing that we will probably won't every know is, did a lot of people that bought weekly passes last season buy year passes this season?

And later in the season does weekly pass sales rise? This we will be able to see, at least a trend.

Glenn, if the BLM has more funds than what was projected, what is the plan to do with those dollars? I know this might not happen, but it would good to know if that is the case.

Thanks guys.


The BLM has some ideas if that happens. Neal Hamada mentioned a few things.
More pads, or expand on ones that are there.
Pit toilets in the washes or Dune Buggy Flats ( DBF has my vote as that is the area that gets the most requests for them)

No More Pit Toilets!!! ESPECIALLY in the Washes...

Collossal waste of money!!!
If they just have to do something involving bodily waste, have them put in a trailer dump...

From the 2004-05 ISDRA TRT Dune User Survey:
(Available in the Documents Section at www.isdratrt.org. Download the Excel file named ISDRA TRT 2004 Survey Results 060605.xls)

They feel that the current level of Trash Dumpsters are fine (64%), and that the Portable Toilets should be left at current quantities (50%). There are some Dune Users (19%) that feel that the portable toilets should be replaced by permanent Pit Toilets and are nearly even split for putting them at Wash Road (36%) and Dune Buggy Flats (35%). However, other Dune Users (23%) feel the portable toilets should be eliminated.



Brian, It looks like you may fall into that 50% that wants the Portable Toilets should be left at current quantities, rather that the 19% that think the portable toilets should be replaced by permanent Pit Toilets.

Here's the thing. The portables are only out there on holidays. The Pit Toilets would be out there all the time. Its my understanding that is why they want them there. To be there for their use all year. That 19% most likely consists of the dune users that don't have a trailer to dump.

Since the ISDRA is a place for people with different needs to recreate, it is not only fair, but necessary, that the TRT and BLM listen to them all. That 19% has voiced a need that has been heard. Time will tell if it is answered.