I don’t know about safer trails!    

It seems very strange that 7% permit price increase is voted down and the trails are reduced by 10-15% or whatever the actual amount is.   If the permit price increase resulted in 5% or 10% fewer permit sales but could be seen to reduce traffic by 5-10% and negate some required grooming maybe the increase would serve a purpose?  In a perfect world      It would be interesting to see the permit sale projection numbers /studies for different permit prices.   A $300 permit would result in X sales vs a $250 permit vs a $200 permit.     I know it’s all based on estimates but it would be interesting to see the calculations.     One other thing the guy that based the projected trail groomer frequency for this year based on the app usage on cellphones last year should get a swift kick in the nuts!

Then we are doomed - end of story. The trail is the product - whether you like it or not. You're selling a permit to anyone who wants access to your product ( trails ). OFSC should have 100% control over what that price is - full stop. If they don't want it - then let each district figure out their own costs and allow them to sell a District passes rather than provincial ones. And yes, the OFSC can figure it out - people may not like the number, but that's what it is.  You should be budgeting for a grand winter - every winter - start to finish   Unless you are prepared to tie the sale of the permit to a minimum dedicated amount of volunteer hours - and not to be released until those are checked off and done by the purchaser, then you can forget about ever going back to where it was.   When they organized and let the MTO etc. into the room - it was pandora's box and you aren't going back now, not without bottoming out and ceasing to exist and starting all over again.   

No one controls the weather so full control is impossible, if riding on trails stays perceived as a product, like a screw driver, lamp shade or dishwasher we are doomed, the permit just cannot carry a warranty or guarantee. It has to go back to being viewed as what it truly is.  An in-kind pay per use activity run and governed by those willing to put the time in.   Of course legislation, laws and liability will always be a crutch. 

Steve in Ontario weather, and price point for how much weather allows for riding availability has proven to be the greatest factor in permit sales. Personally I voted against the roll back season where we went from $200 back to $180. Lean seasons before and ahead and the drop in price still brought sales and revenue up quite a bit, despite crappy seasons. I don't recall the economy at the time, I just know over all sales numbers and over all revenue increased .   Last season the board recommended a 4% increase, the membership (clubs) voted it down, thinking that the worst season we've ever seen province wide for trail availability (22-23 season) and Covid prior to that, we needed to not rock the boat with riders. Was it the right or wrong call ? No one will ever know that.    But I get what you're thinking