Conn., RI marine industry say taxes will sink them

[The Northerner]

STONINGTON, Conn. (AP) — Boating season hasn't begun yet and Mason's Island Marina owner Eileen Morehouse has already felt the ill effects of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's proposed increases to marine-related taxes — a move that industry veterans claim will repeat mistakes that proved economically devastating.

A customer recently told Morehouse she was moving her sailboat and Boston Whaler from the Mystic marina to neighboring Rhode Island, about 15 minutes away.

"She's afraid that so many people are going to be running to Rhode Island," said Morehouse, who has customers from as far away as Pennsylvania. "If you're going to travel all the way from Philadelphia, what's another 6 miles to Rhode Island? We will lose. Connecticut will lose."

States across the U.S. are embracing increasingly creative ways to bail out budgets mired by years of sinking revenue. But in New England, where boating traditions date back centuries, marine business owners say talk of taxing boaters will cripple an already struggling industry and send boaters looking for better harbors in lower-tax states.

Read more: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/business/article/Conn-RI-marine-industry-say-taxes-will-sink-them-1330827.php

[aquart]

1. OR they could tax the rich.

[Taverner]

12. Yeah - what about that?

If you look at small businesses in America today, they are barely holding on

But big businesses? Full steam ahead!

Tax the rich and rich businesses!

[blm]

2. Typical

.

[FLPanhandle]

3. I guess the rich will only be able to boat now.

The days of the average joe having a sailboat or a fishing boat are coming to an end.

[onethatcares]

5. I read that as I look at my boat sitting on a trailer in the yard

I've had it for 10 years, had a lot of fun on it, but now the cost of registration, gas, insurance and just having the time to take it out

are gone. It's a 21 ft cuddy cabin with an outboard. It holds 35 gallons of gas and will use just about all of it on a good fishing trip, but

it's better to stay in the 1/3 range(that's 1/3 getting there,1/3 getting back and 1/3 for emergencies). I no longer make a very good wage in

construction that allowed me to have that kind of day. No one wants to buy the boat because no one is making what they were when boating was fun,

and there are way more boats out there than buyers.

We're gonna become more like Europe than we ever thought we could become except we won't have the healthcare.

[Fuzz]

4. I'll have to sell my yacht now. Someone start a charity, quick.

[Shagbark Hickory]

6. ONE PERCENT?!?!?! This bullshit is over ONE FUCKING PERCENT?!?

Oh cry me a river.

[FLPanhandle]

7. Read the whole article

Also proposed are 3 percent luxury tax, an increased sales tax affecting boating services, a 3-cent increase in the gasoline tax, and a property tax on boats.

All that adds up to regular folks who are slowing being pushed out of the boating world.

[Shagbark Hickory]

8. THREE PERCENT?! $30.00 for every $1,000 spent? This is sending people across state lines in droves?

You know, the business have to pay it but that doesn't mean they have to charge it.

[FLPanhandle]

10. I think the potential property tax on boats would easily drive people away

Especially if it's a percentage of the value of the boat each year.

[Shagbark Hickory]

13. I know floree=duh doesn't have this but in just about every other state we pay ad-velorum (car tax)

based on the value of the vehicle.
No reason they can't do that on boats.
It hasn't stopped people from buying new cars.

[FLPanhandle]

14. Yes, but you need your car where you live.

You can store your boat anywhere within driving distance (and CT isn't that big).

If I had a boat there and could pay for the storage with the tax savings, I'd drive an extra hour too.

That is the issue. Boats are mobile and can be stored anywhere. The people who get hurt are the small businesses in CT.

[Shagbark Hickory]

15. Why? It seems like they're generating all the bad press for themselves.

It's not that significant.

Look I'm not saying there arent better ways to make up the shortfall or better things to cut but this isn't that drastic of a measure.

[FLPanhandle]

16. It's just one more additional expense

I've lived on the water my entire life. My grandfather used to own a boatyard here in Florida. It wasn't that long ago that almost anyone could have a boat here in Florida. In the 1960's - 1980's most boaters were just average Joe's out with their families in not very expensive boats. Over the years, I've seen the cost (taxes, fuel, fees, docking, boats, etc.) continuously go up (each step wasn't significant either). Now, the cost is prohibitive to most people and I find that sad.

Oh well.

[Shagbark Hickory]

17. The same can be said for a lot of things. CT is insanely expensive. You gotta have $ to live there.

I'm not saying it should be that way, but people that can afford to live in ct, let alone buy a boat, can afford a fair and reasonable tax on this type of property.

[FLPanhandle]

18. I think a higher income tax for the folks that have the serious $ would be fairer

There are still a few folks hanging on there that aren't rich.

[Shagbark Hickory]

19. Perhaps. But these taxes aren't going to make boating any more cost prohibitive.

A 23% tax on new mattresses on the other hand...
Or a tea-party style VAT, will put the squeeze on the non-rich.

[angstlessk]

9. I have read that the two happiest days in a boat owners life are

The day they buy the boat........
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.and the day they sell it...

[FLPanhandle]

11. Yep.

As a lifelong boat owner, I can relate to that.

[Historic NY]

20. Lets see if they leave.........

Ct.& RI they won't go to Mass & all thats left is Long Island or Maine. What makes them special?