Proposed Boating Fee Adjustments Aim To Cover Costs
Nearly 6,000 people requested duplicate sets of their boat registration decals last year from the Oregon State Marine Board because they lost their originals. The Marine Board is proposing to raise the fee to issue duplicate decals from $3 to $10 because the fee, set at $3 in 1983, no longer covers the cost of issuing the decal. By comparison, the Dept. of Motor Vehicles charges $12 to issue duplicate vehicle registration stickers.
The Board is also proposing to raise the threshold for an automatic refund from $5 to $7. Current rules, set in 1986, dictate that refunds will automatically be issued for overpayments or aborted transactions if $5 or more. Last year, boaters applied for, but never completed, 972 boat titles. The Marine Board issued refunds on all the applications despite spending staff time to process each of them. The higher threshold will allow the board to recoup some of these costs.
The refunds, which will apply to other transactions as well, will still be issued on request, but not automatically. Some of the reasons why titles aren't completed include lack of documentation, failure to obtain a hull inspection or other factors that keep someone from completing the process, according to the Marine Board.
Neither increase is seen as a significant revenue source. "We view these increases as administrative - we're simply trying to cover our true costs," said Wayne Shuyler, Assistant Director for the Marine Board. "In fact, we expect that people will look harder for those 'lost' decals before requesting a new set, and that's fine with us, too."
The Marine Board is accepting comment on the proposed increases through Feb. 28. Please mail your comments to Wayne Shuyler, Oregon State Marine Board, PO Box 14145, Salem, OR 97381. You may also fax comments to (503) 378-4597, or e-mail them to Wayne.Shuyler@state.or.us.
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Time to Renew Boat Registrations
If your boat has an "01" registration decal on its bow, its registration has expired and it's time to renew. "This year is shaping up to be a great water year and state biologists are forecasting good spring and fall salmon returns," said Randy Henry, information representative for the Oregon State Marine Board. "We're urging people to register their boats early this year and avoid standing in line when they'd rather be in their boat casting a line."
Boat registrations were down slightly in 2001, due in part to the low water year. Henry says resource managers are optimistic this year that those problems are, hopefully, behind us. "We have an above-average snowpack and rivers are full. At this point, we don't foresee the low-water problems we had last year. Dust your boat off, make sure it's mechanically fit and safe to operate, and get ready for a good season."
Boat owners with "01" registration decals should have gotten a card in the mail already, reminding them to renew their registration. "If they do it now, through the mail using that card, they'll have their decals in two weeks or less," said Henry. "If, for whatever reason, you didn't get a card, visit your local boat registration agent. Even if your boat hasn't been used in several years, they can register you and give you a temporary operator's permit. Your decals will arrive in 3-5 weeks. Also, registration fees are not retroactive - there is no late penalty."
Registration and titling fees provide operating funds for the Marine Board. Combined with state boat gas tax revenues and federal funds, the Marine Board helps plan and pay for improvements to boat ramps and related facilities such as parking lots and restrooms. The Marine Board also funds marine law enforcement efforts across the state.
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