The cost of spending a day on the water in Palm Beach County would get $10 more expensive due to a proposed boat launch fee going before the County Commission on Tuesday.
That would be $10 too much, according to a rising tide of opposition from boaters – already dealing with up and down gas prices, yearly vessel registration fees and rising food costs that make it more expensive to fill a cooler.
County officials contend they need to add a $10-per-day boat trailer parking fee at the county’s five saltwater-access ramps to help offset a lingering budget crunch.
Instead of paying a $10 daily fee, the new proposal also would allow county residents to pay $75 for an annual permit.
Property tax revenue is dropping because of the continued economic slide, and that has the county looking for ways to cut costs and raise money. Park maintenance could benefit from the boat ramp fee, county officials said.
But boaters point out that during the budget crunch nobody is calling for daily fees to use picnic tables, bike trails and other attractions at county parks. And boaters already pay property taxes and gas taxes, which generate revenue for the county, as well as vessel registration fees that help pay for marine expenses.
With a coastline increasingly overrun by high-end condos and private marinas, opponents contend that adding the fee to county parks creates one more discouragement to an activity considered part of the Florida lifestyle.
“We feel like we are being singled out,” said Amy Tolderlund, president of the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County. “The boaters being singled out here are the people who can’t afford expensive dockage. They are on a budget.”
Last year, boaters sunk a similar boat ramp fee proposal. Boaters are organizing more opposition for Tuesday’s commission vote. The meeting at the county governmental center in downtown West Palm Beach starts at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.County parks considered for the fees are: Burt Reynolds Park in Jupiter, Bert Winters Park and Juno Park in Juno Beach, Phil Foster Park in Riviera Beach and the yet-to-be-completed Light Harbor Park in Riviera Beach.
Kiosks would be installed for boaters to make the payments 365 days a year, allowing the county to avoid paying employees to collect the fees.
Some cities charge boat launch fees. Boca Raton charges $15 a day or $37 for an annual permit. Boynton Beach charges $10 a day or $50 for an annual permit.
The county’s fees are expected to generate up to $475,000, according to county estimates.
“We subsidize different types of recreational activities,” county Parks and Recreation Director Dennis Eshleman said referring to sports fields and swimming pools. “It would help us avoid cutting more.”
The county invested in boat ramps and parks to improve access to the waterfront and needs to ensure it has money to maintain those facilities, Commission Chairman Jeff Koons said.
Boaters should not have to pay the price for the commission’s past decisions to “run up” the budget with increased spending during the real estate boom that brought in more tax revenue, said Bill Askey, a recreational boater from Jupiter Farms.
“It’s another tax,” Askey said. “Shame on the County Commission for not properly addressing their fiduciary responsibilities.”
Andy Reid can be reached at or 561-228-5504.
