Proposed boat tax excluded from New York budget

WASHINGTON — A five-percent tax on boats over $200,000 opposed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association is not included in New York’s final 2009 budget, the NMMA reported in a release today.

The tax was proposed in New York Governor David Paterson’s original budget.

“The National Marine Manufacturers Association and its allies aggressively opposed the creation of the tax in discussions with New York lawmakers,” stated the release. “NMMA and dealer associations throughout the state also organized a letter-writing campaign, facilitating hundreds of e-mails to Governor Paterson from concerned boaters and marine businesses.”

The group argued that the tax would cause significant damage.

“We’re pleased that the legislature and the Governor realized that this boat tax would not only fail to bring in revenue,” said NMMA’s David Dickerson, “but would significantly damage many marine businesses.”

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