Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post - Here it is! Boat Registration Proposed Legislation

kjbathe · 01-22-2009, 09:14 AM

So with more information on the table from the Citizen article, I'm to understand that because:

- Snowmobiles cost more to register, boats should cost more
- Fees haven't been increased in a long time, so they should be now
- Only one objection was voiced at some obscure subcommittee hearing, so increasing the fees is a good idea
- The bill will benefit boat dealers, so it's a good idea
- The bill will benefit town and city clerks, so it's a good idea
- Half of the Marine Patrol budget comes from fees, the other half from the Coast Guard, so it's a good idea.

I'm sorry, but I remain unconvinced.

As the taxpayer that ALSO pays the Coast Guard through taxes, are you trying to convince me that we should increase fees because the Feds are no longer funding the Coast Guard? Or will the Feds still pay half, the State will stay pay half, and then the $3M budget will go up by $X for what?

And I'm not on board with paying more in fees to benefit boat dealers and city clerks. In fact, I'd like to eliminate the latter altogether and just register it all online in one central place.

01-22-2009, 09:14 AM	#33
kjbathe Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 281 Thanks: 3 Thanked 21 Times in 11 Posts	Irwin's Logic So with more information on the table from the Citizen article, I'm to understand that because: - Snowmobiles cost more to register, boats should cost more - Fees haven't been increased in a long time, so they should be now - Only one objection was voiced at some obscure subcommittee hearing, so increasing the fees is a good idea - The bill will benefit boat dealers, so it's a good idea - The bill will benefit town and city clerks, so it's a good idea - Half of the Marine Patrol budget comes from fees, the other half from the Coast Guard, so it's a good idea. I'm sorry, but I remain unconvinced. As the taxpayer that ALSO pays the Coast Guard through taxes, are you trying to convince me that we should increase fees because the Feds are no longer funding the Coast Guard? Or will the Feds still pay half, the State will stay pay half, and then the $3M budget will go up by $X for what? And I'm not on board with paying more in fees to benefit boat dealers and city clerks. In fact, I'd like to eliminate the latter altogether and just register it all online in one central place.