Maryland's governor has come up with plan to charge slipholders $50 "for the wetlands"...Boat US sees it for what it is. No guarantees the money raised would be dedicated to wetlands preservation, no acknowledgement of the portion of marine/slip fees that are already charged by those marinas that particpate in MD's clean marina program, etc. Apologies in advance for dragging politics into the board, but thought at least some members would want to know... Bill ____________________________________ BoatU.S. fights $50 Maryland slip fee plan The nation's largest consumer boating organization has come out in strong opposition to Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich's proposal to levy an annual $50 fee on all marina slips in the state. The Boat Owners Association of the United States says it has contacted its 35,000 Maryland members, urging them to convey their opposition to state lawmakers. One out of six boat owners in the state and as many as one out of two slipholders are BoatU.S. members, the organization estimates. "This is a new tax, not a 'user fee,' " Jim Ellis, BoatU.S. president and a resident of Arnold, Md., said in a statement. BoatU.S. says the "purported purpose" of the fee is to raise money to protect Maryland's wetlands, but Ellis says he doesn't understand why one segment of the population is being asked to pay for it. "While restoring wetlands is a worthy undertaking that every Maryland resident should support, vessels large enough to be kept in marina slips receive no special benefits from wetlands, so we fail to understand why slipholders are being singled out," he said. Ellis says the new fee proposal simply "adds insult to injury," pointing out that the state already collects millions of dollars each year from boaters in marine fuel taxes, yet diverts 70 percent of these funds to non-boating purposes. "It doesn't seem fair to ask recreational boaters to pay more when most of the money they're already paying isn't being used to benefit boating," adds Ellis. BoatU.S., which has 550,000 members nationwide, is encouraging Maryland boaters to visit the organization's Web site, www.BoatUS.com/gov , and click on the State News Alert section, which provides a sample letter on the issue and a listing of state legislators.
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Jay Eaton
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Jay Eaton
Boat US Web
... but you can go to the Boat US website and read about it, or click here: http://www.boatus.com/news/releases.asp
... but you can go to the Boat US website and read about it, or click here: http://www.boatus.com/news/releases.asp
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Bill
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James
Governor gone mad
Governor Ehrlich is incessed with building roads that is where the $50.00 per slip will end up. Hudini bookeeping will keep all of us Marylanders wondering what he did with the cash !!!!!!! A very disapinting governor
Governor Ehrlich is incessed with building roads that is where the $50.00 per slip will end up. Hudini bookeeping will keep all of us Marylanders wondering what he did with the cash !!!!!!! A very disapinting governor
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Tom
I did receive an e-mail from Boat US
I received an E-mail message from Boat US yesterday regarding the $50 slip fee. Time to let the politicians know how we feel...I'll call my representative on Monday.
I received an E-mail message from Boat US yesterday regarding the $50 slip fee. Time to let the politicians know how we feel...I'll call my representative on Monday.
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John Dawson
Getting soaked in the 'wetlands'
Ehrlichs slip tax would help boating the way Reagan's luxury tax helped the boatbuilders in the 80s. (Cape Dory, Cals, etc.) Maybe he will put the Pride of Baltimore II on ebay along with the state yacht already there.
Ehrlichs slip tax would help boating the way Reagan's luxury tax helped the boatbuilders in the 80s. (Cape Dory, Cals, etc.) Maybe he will put the Pride of Baltimore II on ebay along with the state yacht already there.
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Ruth
Maryland not the only state....
...to try to get more money from boat owners. Texas is now requiring vessels to have Parks and Wildlife stickers even if we are documented with the Coast Guard. Previously, it was an either/or situation and we opted for documentation. The fee is dependent on length of boat etc. You will also have to prove that you paid sales tax (around 6-7% here) on your boat to get the sticker.IMHO its a way to try to get the sales tax from documented boats from other states who stay in Texas marinas year-round. It's amazing how all those "tax cuts" we got from the Federal Government just shift the revenue burden to other outlets. Combined with Gov. Perry's vow for no new taxes, something had to be done to raise revenue ( our schools are underfunded, but hey, the state is re-districted to DeLays satisfaction.) The fee isn't too bad, under $100 for us and the folks at P&W are great. I just hope the money does go towards maintaining the parks and the workers salaries.
...to try to get more money from boat owners. Texas is now requiring vessels to have Parks and Wildlife stickers even if we are documented with the Coast Guard. Previously, it was an either/or situation and we opted for documentation. The fee is dependent on length of boat etc. You will also have to prove that you paid sales tax (around 6-7% here) on your boat to get the sticker.IMHO its a way to try to get the sales tax from documented boats from other states who stay in Texas marinas year-round. It's amazing how all those "tax cuts" we got from the Federal Government just shift the revenue burden to other outlets. Combined with Gov. Perry's vow for no new taxes, something had to be done to raise revenue ( our schools are underfunded, but hey, the state is re-districted to DeLays satisfaction.) The fee isn't too bad, under $100 for us and the folks at P&W are great. I just hope the money does go towards maintaining the parks and the workers salaries.
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Jim A
Pay the 50 bucks
pennies on the dollar for boating costs! Lets face it, we don't have enough votes to keep them from taxing us! We are like the smokers that have to pay high taxes so other don't!
pennies on the dollar for boating costs! Lets face it, we don't have enough votes to keep them from taxing us! We are like the smokers that have to pay high taxes so other don't!
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Bill
Agree it's not the amount (+)
but it's the principle. Keeping a boat in "Maryland's" waters already brings revenue into the State.
but it's the principle. Keeping a boat in "Maryland's" waters already brings revenue into the State.
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Jim A
If you don't like it
then don't boat there! I don't and don't see the big deal about it! No air and hot in the summer. Not the place I want to sail! State of Maryland can keep it!
then don't boat there! I don't and don't see the big deal about it! No air and hot in the summer. Not the place I want to sail! State of Maryland can keep it!
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Kirk
Don't boat there?
Don't boat there? What if I live there? That's fine for people coming from other places, but I live here and want to boat here. We pay a tax when we buy the boat, we pay to register the boat, pay tax on fuel....
Don't boat there? What if I live there? That's fine for people coming from other places, but I live here and want to boat here. We pay a tax when we buy the boat, we pay to register the boat, pay tax on fuel....
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John Dawson
I was here first
and I'll be boating here after Gov. Ehrlich is gone. I used to think the water was cleaner the farther away from Baltimore I was, until the pfiesteria outbreak. I had actually been planning to trailer over to Snow Hill and motor down the Pocomoke when that happened. This is the governor that gutted the regulations meant to force the chicken factory owners and big producers to stop contaminating rivers with agricultural waste. This is what would have improved the wetlands, or dedicating the tax money toward the Clean Marina program which is voluntary. Slot machines, irresponsible big business profits and bogus taxes for boaters is what his record is. By the way Philadelphia, Gov. Ehrlich called and he wants his crabs back.
and I'll be boating here after Gov. Ehrlich is gone. I used to think the water was cleaner the farther away from Baltimore I was, until the pfiesteria outbreak. I had actually been planning to trailer over to Snow Hill and motor down the Pocomoke when that happened. This is the governor that gutted the regulations meant to force the chicken factory owners and big producers to stop contaminating rivers with agricultural waste. This is what would have improved the wetlands, or dedicating the tax money toward the Clean Marina program which is voluntary. Slot machines, irresponsible big business profits and bogus taxes for boaters is what his record is. By the way Philadelphia, Gov. Ehrlich called and he wants his crabs back.
I don't think you'll want...
them after they've been around "Mayor Street" for any length of time. If you want creative taxes and the like, just look to Philadelphia--talk about shaking your head in disbelief. The crabs are probably hanging aroundhim to pick at the many skeletons in his closet.... Philadelphia is great--save for the 'gubmint.'
them after they've been around "Mayor Street" for any length of time. If you want creative taxes and the like, just look to Philadelphia--talk about shaking your head in disbelief. The crabs are probably hanging aroundhim to pick at the many skeletons in his closet.... Philadelphia is great--save for the 'gubmint.'
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Rob
support the bay?
I have allways been in financial support of our natural surroundings..I readily pay any park fee, beach access fees, and support our local chapters of enviornmentalists where ever I can. I have no problem paying an extra $50.00 per year to enjoy the bay........Now saying that I have no tolerance for the wasteful pork that our countries politicians have been hording over the last few years. The question is how do we know this "Tax" will go to help the bay??? and not some monument for the Navy academy. or study of what people think of the MD state flag..or become a shelter for "Polutethewatersatthecostofall marinelife .com"..I am so sick of hearing every year that the polution in the bay is getting worse ,,,sea grasses are dying,mussel beds are dwindeling...as we are trying to preserve the sailing areas we love...This summer was pathetic..the growth of the alge ..(due to fertilizer runoff from local farms,,and not BOATS) was incredible...... I dont see why slip renters...should be targeted???.......my sailboat leaves less polution than 90 % of the trailerable powerboats that gun down the bay every Saturday.......and what about the Mooring renters???...alot of those boats are larger than ours...will they be getting taxed?? Another example of missguided politicians...I cant wait until NOVEMBER!! ..keep my $200 tax credit and give us a natural wonderland WE are trying to preserve!
I have allways been in financial support of our natural surroundings..I readily pay any park fee, beach access fees, and support our local chapters of enviornmentalists where ever I can. I have no problem paying an extra $50.00 per year to enjoy the bay........Now saying that I have no tolerance for the wasteful pork that our countries politicians have been hording over the last few years. The question is how do we know this "Tax" will go to help the bay??? and not some monument for the Navy academy. or study of what people think of the MD state flag..or become a shelter for "Polutethewatersatthecostofall marinelife .com"..I am so sick of hearing every year that the polution in the bay is getting worse ,,,sea grasses are dying,mussel beds are dwindeling...as we are trying to preserve the sailing areas we love...This summer was pathetic..the growth of the alge ..(due to fertilizer runoff from local farms,,and not BOATS) was incredible...... I dont see why slip renters...should be targeted???.......my sailboat leaves less polution than 90 % of the trailerable powerboats that gun down the bay every Saturday.......and what about the Mooring renters???...alot of those boats are larger than ours...will they be getting taxed?? Another example of missguided politicians...I cant wait until NOVEMBER!! ..keep my $200 tax credit and give us a natural wonderland WE are trying to preserve!
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John Dawson
Let's add some waypoints to this
I was stunned last week to read that Gov. Ehrlich was proposing environmental initiatives for the Bay, naively thinking that he had given up his crusade for gambling and decided to take up numerous causes dear to tidewater residents. Upon seeing the slip fee proposal and BoatUS criticism of it, I concluded that he was devising a boater-targeted tax to help the serious state budget problem, and that the money was going in the general fund that had no connection to any environmental efforts. Today I opened the Washington Post and there was a color picture of Mike Leavitt (EPA Administrator) and Ehrlich in an article titled "Bush Moves to Defuse Environmental Criticism." The article reviews the dismal Bush environmental record and quotes a democratic environmental strategist as saying the recent policy reversals were "breathtaking." So its not about the environment. Its about polls that reflect the "public unease" with environmental issues in an election year. Its politics coming from the top. The state gets a new tax which goes into the general fund with no program, Bush (and Ehrlich among others) get the credit for being 'environmental', and any boater who doesn't like it is a bad guy for being against "wetlands". And you can be sure if one state finds a new way to tax people, other states will be considering it. Taxes won't clean water until the politicians and EPA get sincere about OUR environment. Thats what I want for my $50. Thank you BoatUS and others for sounding the bell in the thick fog of politics.
I was stunned last week to read that Gov. Ehrlich was proposing environmental initiatives for the Bay, naively thinking that he had given up his crusade for gambling and decided to take up numerous causes dear to tidewater residents. Upon seeing the slip fee proposal and BoatUS criticism of it, I concluded that he was devising a boater-targeted tax to help the serious state budget problem, and that the money was going in the general fund that had no connection to any environmental efforts. Today I opened the Washington Post and there was a color picture of Mike Leavitt (EPA Administrator) and Ehrlich in an article titled "Bush Moves to Defuse Environmental Criticism." The article reviews the dismal Bush environmental record and quotes a democratic environmental strategist as saying the recent policy reversals were "breathtaking." So its not about the environment. Its about polls that reflect the "public unease" with environmental issues in an election year. Its politics coming from the top. The state gets a new tax which goes into the general fund with no program, Bush (and Ehrlich among others) get the credit for being 'environmental', and any boater who doesn't like it is a bad guy for being against "wetlands". And you can be sure if one state finds a new way to tax people, other states will be considering it. Taxes won't clean water until the politicians and EPA get sincere about OUR environment. Thats what I want for my $50. Thank you BoatUS and others for sounding the bell in the thick fog of politics.
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Rob
politics
This will be my last post on this subject as this is a sailing web and not a political web site..... But this is in todays news......and the Gov is responding to political pressures higher than his office........ Maryland got largely grim news Monday from President Bush's budget plan, including a wide range of cuts in important programs and a slim pay raise for the several hundred thousand federal employees who live in the state. * Net cuts of nearly $50 million from the current year in programs to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay, including efforts to upgrade sewage treatment plants and reduce sewage overflows. "It appears as if the Bush administration is defunding the Chesapeake Bay restoration program and that concerns us a great deal," said William Baker, president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Sunspot.net see link for another article
This will be my last post on this subject as this is a sailing web and not a political web site..... But this is in todays news......and the Gov is responding to political pressures higher than his office........ Maryland got largely grim news Monday from President Bush's budget plan, including a wide range of cuts in important programs and a slim pay raise for the several hundred thousand federal employees who live in the state. * Net cuts of nearly $50 million from the current year in programs to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay, including efforts to upgrade sewage treatment plants and reduce sewage overflows. "It appears as if the Bush administration is defunding the Chesapeake Bay restoration program and that concerns us a great deal," said William Baker, president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Sunspot.net see link for another article
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Rob
politics
This will be my last post on this subject as this is a sailing web and not a political web site..... But this is in todays news......and the Gov is responding to political pressures higher than his office........ Maryland got largely grim news Monday from President Bush's budget plan, including a wide range of cuts in important programs and a slim pay raise for the several hundred thousand federal employees who live in the state. * Net cuts of nearly $50 million from the current year in programs to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay, including efforts to upgrade sewage treatment plants and reduce sewage overflows. "It appears as if the Bush administration is defunding the Chesapeake Bay restoration program and that concerns us a great deal," said William Baker, president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Sunspot.net see link for another article
This will be my last post on this subject as this is a sailing web and not a political web site..... But this is in todays news......and the Gov is responding to political pressures higher than his office........ Maryland got largely grim news Monday from President Bush's budget plan, including a wide range of cuts in important programs and a slim pay raise for the several hundred thousand federal employees who live in the state. * Net cuts of nearly $50 million from the current year in programs to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay, including efforts to upgrade sewage treatment plants and reduce sewage overflows. "It appears as if the Bush administration is defunding the Chesapeake Bay restoration program and that concerns us a great deal," said William Baker, president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Sunspot.net see link for another article
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Kirk
More fee increases
I see in the paper today, the Gov. wants to raise the registration fee from $24.00 to $40.00 as well as the new slip tax mentioned here.
I see in the paper today, the Gov. wants to raise the registration fee from $24.00 to $40.00 as well as the new slip tax mentioned here.
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John Dawson
Well said, Rob
You are a Chesapeake sailor with your heart in the right place. We can't be debating our favorite beer or anchorage while politicians play games over a despoiled Bay. While funding for our endangered water with all its creatures and our activities is quietly slashed, a few high-profile toxic cleanups are getting more funding to 'defuse' any anticipated debate. I remember the upper Potomac in the sixties. We were near Quantico, and the algea bloom and hydrilla from excess nutrients (various forms of pollution) had closed entire creeks. The river there had a carpet of algea half an inch thick from shore to shore. On that day it was calm and the algea cooked in the sun, dried and hardened so much that when a wave occured, the crest could be seen as a moving crack on top of the bump. And the river stank of rotting vegetation and floating fish soffocated from depleted oxygen. As seascouts, we weren't given a motor, so we rowed slowly through it for miles. We remember the fun we had as kids on the river, and we remember the dying water, and we care. Some progress has been made, but only by public outcry. The latest research says that the Bay hasn't improved as much as we thought. All the watchguards are now alarmed at this retreat in efforts. I can take my $300 rebate and buy a GPS, and happily debate its use. I would rather be doing that (check my archives.) But how can I not discuss the resulting deficits and political priorities that are erasing programs to "Save the Bay"?
You are a Chesapeake sailor with your heart in the right place. We can't be debating our favorite beer or anchorage while politicians play games over a despoiled Bay. While funding for our endangered water with all its creatures and our activities is quietly slashed, a few high-profile toxic cleanups are getting more funding to 'defuse' any anticipated debate. I remember the upper Potomac in the sixties. We were near Quantico, and the algea bloom and hydrilla from excess nutrients (various forms of pollution) had closed entire creeks. The river there had a carpet of algea half an inch thick from shore to shore. On that day it was calm and the algea cooked in the sun, dried and hardened so much that when a wave occured, the crest could be seen as a moving crack on top of the bump. And the river stank of rotting vegetation and floating fish soffocated from depleted oxygen. As seascouts, we weren't given a motor, so we rowed slowly through it for miles. We remember the fun we had as kids on the river, and we remember the dying water, and we care. Some progress has been made, but only by public outcry. The latest research says that the Bay hasn't improved as much as we thought. All the watchguards are now alarmed at this retreat in efforts. I can take my $300 rebate and buy a GPS, and happily debate its use. I would rather be doing that (check my archives.) But how can I not discuss the resulting deficits and political priorities that are erasing programs to "Save the Bay"?
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