Here it Comes, Hold on Tight

[Fishnlabs]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bre...,3309056.story



Bill would drastically increase boat registration fee in Maryland
Flat $12 annual cost would become graduated payment based on boat size
By Candus Thomson, The Baltimore Sun

11:37 a.m. EST, February 16, 2012
To pay for waterway improvements and maritime safety efforts, state natural resources officials are proposing to increase boating registration fees for the first time in nearly three decades.

A bill filed Thursday morning in Annapolis would replace the flat $12 annual boat registration fee with a graduated payment based on the size of the boat. The increases would be phased in over four years, beginning in October.

"We're not doing this to create something new, we're doing this so that we can maintain what we have," said Bob Gaudette, director of the Department of Natural Resources boating services.

Under the plan, the registration for a boat under 16 feet would rise to $50 a year by 2016. Registering a boat from 16 feet to 32 feet — the most popular size in Maryland — would cost $125. Vessels 32 feet to 45 feet would cost $250. Vessels 45 feet to 65 feet would cost $500. The registration fee for the approximately 52 yachts over 65 feet would be $700.

The new fees would be paid every two years.

In addition to the registration fees, state officials are asking to raise the annual cost of a boat dealer license from $25 to $100. That fee was last changed in 1965.

Graduated registration fees are used in a number of states, including Virginia, Delaware and New Jersey.

The bad economy has depleted the Waterway Improvement Fund, which is used to dredge boating channels, maintain launch ramps and navigational aids, and pay for some of the activities of Natural Resources Police.

The fund is replenished primarily through a 5 percent vessel excise tax. But decreasing boat sales caused revenue to drop from $30 million in 2005 to $15 million last year, according to the state budget.

Meanwhile, the cost of capital projects mandated by state law is about $21 million annually and operating expenses of the boating services division are $14 million, state records show.

"There's virtually no money left to continue capital projects," Gaudette said.

Squeezing the financial situation further is the fact that the Army Corps of Engineers says it no longer has $6 million to dredge 60 shallow-water boating channels used by recreational vessels. Those channels include 35 in Baltimore County and 57 in Anne Arundel County.

To reduce the gap, the state eliminated about 500 buoys and markers statewide and cut staff, but it did little to slow the drain on the fund.

House Bill 1307, which will be heard by the Environmental Matters Committee, would raise $11.2 million, closing the budget gap by half.

Gaudette said it would be asking too much of the 191,000 Maryland boat owners to increase the registration fees more.

"This bill allows us to do the most critical items," he said.

candy.thomson@baltsun.com

[Thunnus Amongus]

"The bad economy has depleted the Waterway Improvement Fund, which is used to dredge boating channels, maintain launch ramps and navigational aids, and pay for some of the activities of Natural Resources Police."

Bad Economy? Really?

[paxfish]

Nice - this after jacking up the trailer fees big time a few years ago. It is unfortunate that boat sales have fallen off. Will the registration fees return to their former levels when boat sales improve?

I think I know the answer.

Further, why are we all paying for waterway improvements? The assumption there is that everybody benefits, when in fact, only the few who use that part of the bay benefit. If Anne Arundel and Baltimore county have all the shallow water channels to be maintained, then they should pay for that.

[blue lou]

I think its human nature to bitch about taxes and fees, but I think this particular raise is overdue, I don't think $65 by 2016 is going to break the bank, besides, it's been a good fall....

[27 sailfish]

Never like having to spend more but the fee has not increased for 45 years.

Not sure why , everything else has increased.

Biggest question - is there a safe guard to ensure the money stays with DNR ?

Read last week the water way fund got raided and put into general fund.

Be great to hold DNR to building more ramps - public access in most areas stinks.

[finatic Jason]

never mind

[BigWillJ]

Hope I'm still around to hear the banter from folks, who aren't on a fixed income now, when they try to rationalize any cost/fee/tax increases on their personal budgets as they attempt to do now. Must be nice making all that money to afford a 5-fold increase on the registration of the most popular size boats out there.

[rj]

[Slipsinker]

Hope I'm still around to hear the banter from folks, who aren't on a fixed income now, when they try to rationalize any cost/fee/tax increases on their personal budgets as they attempt to do now. Must be nice making all that money to afford a 5-fold increase on the registration of the most popular size boats out there.

Damn they sure make it hard on us retired folks. Guys like me who slip their boats also face yearly marina maintenance fee increases and the ever increasing dock fuel costs. Guess we'll just have to bear it and hope we catch more fish.

And to respond to RJ's post "What's in your wallet?" -

[hackeyfly]

Hope I'm still around to hear the banter from folks, who aren't on a fixed income now, when they try to rationalize any cost/fee/tax increases on their personal budgets as they attempt to do now. Must be nice making all that money to afford a 5-fold increase on the registration of the most popular size boats out there.

I would respectfully suggest that if you have the means to own and operate a boat of that size, you are doing better than most. Boats are generally considered luxury items, are they not? For recreational purposes? I gotta say, when I'm on a fixed income, and I have to make choices as to where my funds go, I'll make those choices. If it comes down to feeding myself or registering the boat, I'll probably feed myself, and be thankful that I have the means to feed myself. It really grinds my gears when folks cry about the cost of their TOYS. They are TOYS, folks. Be thankful you are fortunate enough to have the disposable $$$ to possess these toys. You are better off than probably 80% of the entire planet. I would respectfully suggest that it is not the governments job to make sure I have a place to play with my toys. Y'all want the channels dredged? Form a creek association and raise the $$$ and have it done. Boating is not a poor mans hobby.
Pat in Joppa