Politics & Government

DNR Proposes Smaller Boating Fee Hikes

The changes come after many boaters from across the state expressed concerns over initial proposal.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced Tuesday it would propose boating registration fees that are less than its original, proposed increases.

Many .

If that legislation had passed, it would mean some boat owners' registration fees would cost between $50 and $700 every two years, depending on the boat’s size. 

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Currently, boat registration costs $24 every two years; the same price it has been since 1983, according to a DNR news release.

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Under DNR’s proposed changes to the legislation, which the House Environmental Matters Committee is expected to have a hearing on this Friday, here is the new fee structure:

Boat Size  Fee (every 2 years) Less than 16 feet $25 16-20 feet $50 21-31 feet $75 32-44 $100 45-65 $200 More than 65 $300

According to the news release, the bill also contains a voluntary option for owners of non-motorized boats to purchase a $12 decal every other year. In addition, the release continues, the fees would go into effect in 2013 instead of being phased in over several years like in the original proposal.

“We hope these proposed fee reductions strike a better balance among the competing factors of affordability to boaters, recession impacts on boat sales and the growing, unmet needs to maintain our boating assets,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin in a statement.

“With some of the most magnificent waterways in the country, we must work together to keep boating safe and enjoyable."

, writing in a letter to  Patch that increases are needed to pay for dredging, maintaining buoys and other water-related projects.

Bob Gaudette, who oversees boating programs for the DNR, added that there are around 30 dredging channels in the Essex-Middle River area that could be affected.

Gaudette said the state has allocated $15 million annually for boating projects but there is at least $41 million in projects on DNR’s work list.

Currently, Gaudette said DNR gets most of its funding from the 5 percent excise tax on boats when they are sold. But that funding source has shrunk by 50 percent in recent years as the poor economy has led to fewer people buying boats, he said.

Making the fees even more necessary, Gaudette said, is that the Army Corps of Engineers would soon no longer be able to provide the $6 million in annual federal funds that's needed for many dredging projects.

According to the DNR news release, these projects include “more than 60 shallow water boating channels used by recreational boaters, commercial watermen and other marine-related businesses.”

Brian Schneider, vice president of the Marine Trades Association of Baltimore County, said he has mixed emotions about the proposed fee increase. He admits more funding is necessary, as the current registration fees haven’t been increased in decades.

But, Schneider, who owns Tradewinds Marina in Bowleys Quarters, added the original proposal would have had too much of a negative impact on the state's boating industry, which is still recovering from the recession.

"I think DNR realized its first plan was too far-reaching," Schneider said. "I don't want to see Maryland become a 'high-tide' state when many boats are limited to when they can come through due to lack of dredging. That's why there is a need for a fee increase, but the second tier DNY first proposed was just too much."

Is DNR's latest proposal to increase boater registration fees acceptable to you? Tell us in the comments section below.


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