GREENVILLE – The 15-member commission appointed by the Legislature to study the equity in the distribution of gas tax revenues attributable to snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and watercraft will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, at Greenville High School.

The purpose of the commission is to determine the percentage of gasoline taxes paid on gasoline for snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and motorboats in the state and to ensure that the taxes benefit the users.

Because snowmobiling helps boost the economy in the Moosehead Lake region during winter months, Greenville town officials are urging all residents to attend either the 1:30-3:30 p.m. or the 5-7 p.m. hearing at the school.

Greenville selectwoman Sharon Libby Jones, who encouraged the commission to hold the meeting in the Moosehead Lake region, said this will be an opportunity to express how important the snowmobile industry is to the area and how more funds from the gasoline tax should be diverted to this sport

“We need to work towards the state shouldering more of the burden for maintaining Maine’s vast network of trails,” Jones said. “This commission’s study has the potential to dramatically increase the state’s support of this important industry.”

Libby said recently that the snowmobile program in Maine is funded entirely by user fees from registrations and a small amount from the gasoline tax.

The commission is comprised of five members of the Senate, five members of the House of Representatives, and designees from the Department of Conservation, Marine Resources, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Transportation and the Bureau of Revenue Services within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services.

The commission must submit a report and any recommendations to the first regular session of the 120th Legislature.