Association targets pocketbook issues for boaters
Aug 18 2010 in Currents by Deborah Bach
The NMTA will take its legislative priorities to the state capitol during next year's legislative session.
Issues that hit boaters squarely in the pocketbook dominate a list of legislative priorities adopted by the Northwest Marine Trade Association.
The NMTA’s government affairs committee recently identified the list of five priorities the association will be working on in the months leading up to next year’s legislative session in Olympia. And while the association represents marine industry businesses, the issues it is focusing on directly impact recreational boaters — and by extension, have potential economic impacts on the region’s maritime industry.
“We want to have a proactive agenda as we look to increase our presence in Olympia on behalf of recreational boaters,” said Peter Schrappen, the NMTA’s new director of government affairs.
The five priorities, chosen from a list of 15 issues by a vote among NMTA members, include the following:
Recreation and Resource Account (RRA) - The RRA is a dedicated account aimed at improving boating access throughout the state. Funds from the account have been used for items such as installing boat ramps and improving bathrooms. During the 2009-2010 legislative session, the legislature swept $9 million from the RRA to the state’s general fund.
Trade-in allowance – Legislators have proposed getting rid of the deduction that allows boaters to offset the value of their trade-in boat when they purchase a new boat. The bill associated with those efforts did not pass last year, but could come up again next legislative session.
Cruising permit – Vessels cruising in Washington state are subject to a tax of almost 10 percent of their value unless owners obtain six-month or one-year cruising permits. And after the permit expires, the vessel must not return to Washington for either six months or two years or its owners will be liable to pay the use tax. The NMTA says the policy discourages yacht owners from staying in Washington waters and prompts them to keep their boats in Oregon or British Columbia, which see considerable economic benefit from yacht owners spending money on refits, fuel, provisioning, equipment, moorage, hotels, tourism and other areas that support local marine businesses.
Stormwater runoff treatment permitting process – Boatyards are not permitted to install water treatment systems without proper permitting, which the NMTA says can delay projects (and environmental benefits) for months. The association wants the legislation amended so boatyard owners can install treatment systems without getting hung up in a lengthy approval process.
Sales tax cap – In Florida, sales and use tax for vessels is capped at $18,000. The NMTA says the cap is low enough to entice boat owners to homeport in Florida and pay the tax instead of registering their vessels in tax-haven states and countries. The NMTA wants to see a similar measure adopted in Washington to encourage more vessels to homeport here.
Issues that didn’t make the top five list include a new tax on dry boat storage facilities, excise taxes applied to sales of boats (but not RVs and off-road vehicles), phasing out copper-based bottom paint, restoring funding to the state Boaters Activity Account, piloting requirements for visiting yachts and establishing a state Office of Boating, among others.
Task forces were formed around the five priorities and will be coming up with campaign plans and recommendations on how to move forward. Schrappen, who took over as the NMTA’s director of government affairs in May, said the priorities are ones that directly impact recreational boaters and the region’s marine industry.
“The Recreation and Resource Account goes right to what’s near and dear to boaters, which is access and improving (boating) infrastructure. The cruising permit goes right to protecting jobs in Washington state. Tweaking the stormwater treatment permitting process goes right to clean water and how we can best protect our waters and also project jobs,” he said.
“Up and down the list, there’s a lot that we do as an association that impacts the greater good for recreational boaters.”
Jeff Warner said on September 9, 2010
I am an Oregon resident and have a sail boat that my wife and I would love to bring to Washington for our summer vacation each year but I refuse to be victimized by your cruising permit. I sail right past your ports and spend my money in Canada.
John said on August 19, 2010
The RRA sweep is crap. This should be first priority if you want to attract tourists from other states to spend money in yours.
The cruising permit should be the lowest. We love having Washington boats in Oregon.
Matt said on August 18, 2010
This all sounds nice and good until it’s realized that this group is also helping to discourage commercial and liveaboard boat owners for the sole benefit of creating a revenue based on recreational users.
[b]“We want to have a proactive agenda as we look to increase our presence in Olympia on behalf of recreational boaters,” said Peter Schrappen, the NMTA’s new director of government affairs[/b]