This bill is badly needed, but sadly does not go far enough. Property taxes on boats need to either be eliminated, or the rates dropped and all $ taken in from taxes on them diverted and used exclusively for boating and marine related needs….not sent to the school districts and counties general funds. Schools being funded by boat taxes is asinine at face value. What’s the first thing that people get rid of when times get tough? Toys. Yet they are being tapped as a large funding source for a so called “critical need.” Critical needs should be funded in ways that don’t fluctuate, which are paid into by all taxpayers, not by taxing toys that are percieved to only be owned by wealthy people. From a percentage standpoint, the rates are also stupid. Why is a boat (motorized toy) taxed at 10.5%, but a motorcycle or sports car (also a motorized toy) taxed at the same rate as a daily driver car…which is 6%. What is it about this type of motorized recreation that is more deserving of taxation than others? Most importantly…lets just eleminate the taxes beyond sales tax completely. Kayakers and paddle boarders don’t have to pay taxes to use the same water power boaters do. They spend way more time tieing up the boat ramps than powerboaters do, yet get a free pass. Let them pay too, or better yet, treat power boats the same way, and don’t tax them at all either.
I fully believe that if taxes are to be collected on anything it should be in proportion to the impact it has on a particular infrastructure. The public waterways in my county are not funded by the county and neither are the public boat ramps. So, my boat isn’t putting any strain on county resources yet they take an enormous amount of money from me. I would be fine with paying a reasonable registration fee to the state that actually funds DNR resources
Boo fking hoo. The poor rich bitches are having to pay high taxes on their boats. My heart bleeds for them……NOT. Cars and trucks are a necessity. Boats are not. There are too many boats as is. God help you if you get stuck behind a truck pulling a boat along the road. They always seem incapable of doing the speed limit. If they turn, better hope you packed a lunch as it will probably be a while. But hey, “Everyone look at me! I’ve got a boat cause I’m special!”
For even more fun, be stuck somewhere behind one of the boat people at a drive-thru. Rather than park away from the building and walk in to order, they get in the drive thru line and make people have to hang back as they give you a lesson in loutish behavior as they try threading their most prized possession through the narrow drive thru lane.
Why are laws reducing taxes always geared towards making it easier for the rich?
Rich, poor, or whatever; there are too many clogging up our roads. If I were a multi-millionaire, I would not have one. I have known lots of boat owners who agree with the cliche’ that the two best days in a boat owner’s life; are the day they buy it and the day they get rid of it.
I believe them.
5 comments
This bill is badly needed, but sadly does not go far enough. Property taxes on boats need to either be eliminated, or the rates dropped and all $ taken in from taxes on them diverted and used exclusively for boating and marine related needs….not sent to the school districts and counties general funds. Schools being funded by boat taxes is asinine at face value. What’s the first thing that people get rid of when times get tough? Toys. Yet they are being tapped as a large funding source for a so called “critical need.” Critical needs should be funded in ways that don’t fluctuate, which are paid into by all taxpayers, not by taxing toys that are percieved to only be owned by wealthy people. From a percentage standpoint, the rates are also stupid. Why is a boat (motorized toy) taxed at 10.5%, but a motorcycle or sports car (also a motorized toy) taxed at the same rate as a daily driver car…which is 6%. What is it about this type of motorized recreation that is more deserving of taxation than others? Most importantly…lets just eleminate the taxes beyond sales tax completely. Kayakers and paddle boarders don’t have to pay taxes to use the same water power boaters do. They spend way more time tieing up the boat ramps than powerboaters do, yet get a free pass. Let them pay too, or better yet, treat power boats the same way, and don’t tax them at all either.
I fully believe that if taxes are to be collected on anything it should be in proportion to the impact it has on a particular infrastructure. The public waterways in my county are not funded by the county and neither are the public boat ramps. So, my boat isn’t putting any strain on county resources yet they take an enormous amount of money from me. I would be fine with paying a reasonable registration fee to the state that actually funds DNR resources
Boo fking hoo. The poor rich bitches are having to pay high taxes on their boats. My heart bleeds for them……NOT. Cars and trucks are a necessity. Boats are not. There are too many boats as is. God help you if you get stuck behind a truck pulling a boat along the road. They always seem incapable of doing the speed limit. If they turn, better hope you packed a lunch as it will probably be a while. But hey, “Everyone look at me! I’ve got a boat cause I’m special!”
For even more fun, be stuck somewhere behind one of the boat people at a drive-thru. Rather than park away from the building and walk in to order, they get in the drive thru line and make people have to hang back as they give you a lesson in loutish behavior as they try threading their most prized possession through the narrow drive thru lane.
Why are laws reducing taxes always geared towards making it easier for the rich?
Tell me you can’t afford a boat without telling me. Give me a break. You sound jealous. News Flash, not just the rich have boats.
Rich, poor, or whatever; there are too many clogging up our roads. If I were a multi-millionaire, I would not have one. I have known lots of boat owners who agree with the cliche’ that the two best days in a boat owner’s life; are the day they buy it and the day they get rid of it.
I believe them.