California’s boating community and industry together support the dedication and utilization of boater fees and taxes for programs and services that directly benefit boaters.
As a part of our ongoing advocacy efforts on this issue, RBOC and several like-minded boating organizations wrote to State Parks Director Quintero and other officials today to re-affirm our interests, concerns, and requests as the state budget for FY 2023-2024 is being developed prior to the start of that fiscal year on July 1.
We appreciate the decision made by the Governor and Legislature within the state budget for the current fiscal year to refrain from significantly increasing boat registration fees, and in convening a stakeholder process to provide a path to expanded opportunities for all Californians to enjoy on-the-water recreation in the years ahead.
This process provided the opportunity for all interested parties and the state to review the expenditure of more than $100 million each year in fuel tax dollars attributable to boats owners. Within that review, we were able to assess a need to determine the most effective and efficient use of those funds, to identify approaches for increasing the disproportionally small percentage of those monies currently directed to boating programs, and to enhance the financial participation of non-boaters who benefit from the current and future programs.
We anticipate that the Governor’s May Budget Revise may propose one or more solutions to the Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund [HWRF] deficiency. We urge the administration and the Legislature to ensure that the recommendations developed through this stakeholder process are incorporated.
They include:
• A comprehensive report on the economic impact of recreational boating in California.
• The enhanced participation and financial contribution of non-boating stakeholders and beneficiaries who benefit from current and future programs and services.
• The enhancement of the statutory authority and role of the Commission to provide not only advice, but also consent on the Division’s loans and grants from the HWRF.
• The identification of approaches that can be taken to meet the new challenges identified through the stakeholder engagement process such as the number of abandoned and derelict vessels not currently addressed by the existing SAVE grant program.
• The enhancement of the Division’s administration of essential programs.
• The identification of efficiencies and improvements to programs that are not attracting the desired number of recipients due to statutory requirements that may be out-of-date, obsolete, or non-competitive.
• Encouragement of Californians to take advantage of the unique and diverse on-the-water opportunities that exist throughout the state.
• A return of a significant amount of the motor vehicle fuel taxes directly generated by recreational boaters to the HWRF.
• An identification and expenditure of other funds for grants directed to beach erosion control.
• As appropriate, a vessel registration fee adjustment that is reasonable and that corresponds to the revenues and savings that are recommended above.
With the dedicated leadership provided by members of the Boating and Waterways Commission and the personnel at the Division of Boating and Waterways, the boating community engaged in the extensive stakeholder process with optimism that the recom-mendations would inform budgetary decisions and policy initiatives to enhance unique California’s on-the-water opportunities for all Californians.
The process concluded at the end of last year with the submission of each subcommittee’s report to the Division of Boating and Waterways and the Department of Parks and Recreation.
We are urging the administration and the Legislature to incorporate the recommendations into the May budget revise and related budget legislation that will be released in the near future.
For a copy of today’s letter: click here