The state’s fiscal year began on July 1 with the Governor and legislative leadership having agreed upon the main budget trailer bill and related budget trailer bills.
Boating Fees & Taxes
Registration fee increase have not yet been raised to resolve the $20 million annual deficit in the Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund and the programs and services if supports.
The enacted budget directs the Division of Boating and Waterways to consult with stakeholders to develop and submit a proposal to the Legislature to keep the fund in structural balance on an ongoing basis.
RBOC continues to advocate for updates and efficiencies to state programs financed by boat registration fees to ensure they provide positive benefits to boaters and share costs with other stakeholders where appropriate – prior to an increase in boat registration fees.
The adopted budget incorporates a number of revisions including the financial participation of other beneficiaries in invasive species efforts, and the elimination of funding for the beach erosion program that does not benefit boaters. Even with these and other actions, the HWRF deficiency has not yet been resolved.
Placing the burden of a $20 million annual deficit solely on vessel registration fees and ignoring the $107 million in annual fuel taxes that are attributable to boats would increase those registration fees by at least 300%.
There are proposals that would increase boat registration fees even more. Legislation has been drafted and is being circulated to amend state law to expand the current quagga and zebra mussel sticker boaters purchase through DMV to include the golden mussel and other invasive species.
Delta Conveyance Project
The Governor’s proposed budget trailer bills to expedite this project have not yet been introduced and were not included in the 20 budget trailer bills that have been enacted thus far.
RBOC continues to oppose the 2 proposed trailer bills, agreeing with the suggestion of the independent and nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, as well as individual legislators and other stakeholders who are urging the Legislature to defer these trailer bills so that they are not taken up within the budget development process.
The significant precedent-setting policies raised by the trailer bills, together with their potential implications for the recreational boating community and others, are more appropriately developed, deliberated and voted upon within the public, transparent policy committee process that applies to thousands of legislative measures introduced each year.
Additional Budget Actions
Ongoing discussions involving the leadership of the Senate and Assembly, and the Governor, are continuing and could result in additional legislation [termed "budget trailer bills"] revising the budget provisions that have been enacted.