Increased cost is barrier to boating entry

While California’s Mammoth Mountain still has skiing in July, the long winter is finally easing along the coastline. However, it is still icicles in the State Capital as they seek for boater fees to help the politicians pay other bills. Here’s an update from BoatU.S. Government Affairs:

Governor Newsom’s proposed 2023-24 budget calls for a 300% increase in boat registration fees. Although California boat registration fees have not increased in several years, BoatU.S. and our state partner, the Recreational Boaters of California (RBOC), do not believe such a significant increase has been justified by the administration.

Please contact your state legislators to request they reject this proposal and engage with boating stakeholders to develop realistic fees that are dedicated to boating programs. You can easily contact your state representatives using our prefilled form. Feel free to add your own views to this message: click here

RBOC, BoatU.S., and other recreational boating stakeholders have been engaged in a two-year process to review the state’s boating programs. While we anticipated there would be a modest increase, we expected the state to recognize the significant contribution boaters already make, such as $107 million in annual motor fuel taxes.

It is our expectation that the fees and taxes paid by boaters go to fund boating programs. Unfortunately, that is not the case with the current proposal. You can read more about this issue at the RBOC website.

Now is the time to speak up and request your state representatives stand firm in rejecting this massive registration fee increase. While boaters are willing to pay our fair share, this will be a barrier for many Californians to enjoy the state’s waterways.