CA governor proposes 300% boat registration fee increase
The nation’s largest recreational boat owners advocacy, services and safety group Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), and the nonprofit state advocacy organization Recreational Boaters of California (RBOC), are asking Golden State boat owners to speak up on a recently proposed 300% boat registration fee increase outlined in Governor Newsom’s 2024 budget.
“Most citizens can understand, over time, the need for modest increases in government fee structures,” said David Kennedy, BoatUS manager of Government Relations. “However, BoatUS and RBOC do not believe such a significant increase is justified by the administration. We are asking the state’s boat owners to reach out to their state legislators to request they reject this proposal and engage with boating stakeholders to develop realistic boat registration fees that are dedicated to boating programs.”
The two groups along with other recreational boating stakeholders have been engaged in a two-year process to review the state’s boating programs. While a modest increase was anticipated, there was some expectation that the state would recognize the significant contribution boaters already make, such as $107 million in annual motor fuel taxes.
The organizations are also concerned that under the proposal, the fee increase would not go to boating programs and services including boater education and operator certification, safety and enforcement on the waterways.
According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the average California boat owner has an income of less than $70,000. Boaters can easily contact their state representatives at the BoatUS online Action Center (votervoice.net) using a prefilled form or by adding their own views. Read more about this issue at the RBOC call-to-action website.
Please do not raise boat registration fees 300%. My husband and I are on a fixed income as retirees. With the cost of fuel, launch fees, insurance, ect. rising this will make owning a boat prohibitive, thus having a detrimental effect on those industries and services supporting boating.
There’s no consideration for people who aren’t loaded with cash- and curtailing boaters who use fossil fuels will be a bonus to this agenda. Knock out the little guy who goes out fishing every day – As always , the lower and middle income people suffer. What’s three hundred dollars to a guy who owns a ten million dollar yacht ?
I strongly oppose the raising boat registration by 300%. we are retired and our boat is our source of relaxation. If you raise the registration we will have to sell the boat
If this passes, next will be Oregon and Washington States. They always do what CA does.