New V.I. Mooring, Anchoring Fees to Come

This law - as proposed - is very concerning. The current fee is $5 per foot per year. The news article states an increase of up to $20 per foot per month. The article may be incorrect as it is more likely the fee is still annual - however...

The existing legislation states:
All owners of vessels shall pay an annual fee of five dollars ($ 5.00) per foot of vessel

The revision (based on the bill passed) would now state:
All owners of vessels shall pay a fee per foot of vessel

So this does not tell us if the fee is annual or monthly. For example, a 30 foot pleasure boat on their own mooring now pays $150 per year for mooring fees. If the new rate is applied annually this would increase to $300 per year. But if they are changing this from annual to monthly then it would be $3600 per year - which is an insane increase.
Renewal fees are due July 1st, so they are trying to push this through before that date.

Also in viewing the bill, there is an error in the table of fees. The class 2 live aboard fee is incorrect - however should this be passed 26 to <40ft can all opt for live-aboard and pay the lesser fee

http://stcroixsource.com/files/userfiles/file/00%20Bills%2016/May%2016/BILL%20NO_%2031-0333%20FRANCIS.pdf

This fee is supposed to be an "Administrative Fee" which logically means the length of the vessel has no relevance - any lawyers out there want to take that on?

According to the BVI list of fees small boat moorings there are still only $100 per year:
http://bviports.org/list-of-fees/
They tried an increase to $400 per year in 2013 but I can't see if this was passed or implemented.
http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/disgruntlement-over-pending-increase-in-mooring-fees
So I'm not sure where the commissioner comes up with..."VI charges $12 per foot for pleasure craft, with a minimum fee of $420 per month."

This is a prime example of substandard legislation proposed to increase fees, without a clear indication of exactly how much we will required to pay.

The fees have not changed for years so its time for some level of increase. The cost to operate the department have increased so revenue must go up to match.

The fees have not changed for years so its time for some level of increase.

Yes. I don't think it's a stretch to understand why rates that have remained the same for 24 years should be hiked!

So, according to the article going from $5 per year to $20 per month for someone with a 40ft commercial boat, is upping their annual mooring fee from $200 to $9,600 per year. And this is as expected because they haven't changed in 24 years? - Yea Right!

And this is on top of the annual boat permit fee and other taxes/licences. It's ridiculous.

It would be nice if the fees paid for services like dinghy docks, pump out stations, etc.

So, according to the article going from $5 per year to $20 per month for someone with a 40ft commercial boat, is upping their annual mooring fee from $200 to $9,600 per year. And this is as expected because they haven't changed in 24 years? - Yea Right!

And this is on top of the annual boat permit fee and other taxes/licences. It's ridiculous.

The legislation has simply been proposed, not yet passed. If you or anyone else has input/concerns/suggestions then like any other interested party you can make them known to the legislative body.

viconsortium.com and the visource.com sites report the new fees are monthly. Avis and Daily News report fees are reporting them as annual.

The way in which the poorly written bill removes the "annual" from the existing legislation leaves this open to interpretation. Every affected boat owner should be contacting their senators regarding this issue.

If you read the bill, the fee schedule says its an annual fee. Its a big increase though.

If you read the bill, the fee schedule says its an annual fee. Its a big increase though.

The bill:
http://stcroixsource.com/files/userfiles/file/00%20Bills%2016/May%2016/BILL%20NO_%2031-0333%20FRANCIS.pdf

At the end of the bill summary it may state per-year, but this is only a 'summary' The content of the bill itself removes the word "annual" from the existing legislation and substitutes the fee schedule. The new resulting legislation would be open to interpretation as it will no longer state a period for which the fees apply.

Two of the online news outlets reported this as a monthly fee, while the newspapers went with annual.

Call your senators!

Then, if it's not too much trouble, drop an email to Senator Francis pointing out the discrepancy and suggesting that it be clarified in the body of the bill.

A mature, experienced government knows that lowering fees increases revenue & stimulates the economy....

So I expect this to be a monthly increase.

It would be nice if the fees paid for services like dinghy docks, pump out stations, etc.

Excellent point! I bet if some of those services were provided or improved lots of sailors wouldn't mind a reasonable increase.

I don't think anyone minds reasonable increases as long as they get value for their money spent. What is BS is money spent on go fast boats so DPNR agents can smuggle drugs, etc. like Tapila did.

hearing

At 1:42:20 this bill is addressed. According to testimony there are annual fees and monthly fees being levied currently. Both types will be increased.

I'm watching these hearing's now...

Can't believe Senator Nelson just stated the following:

"..the reason sometimes you say our beaches are off limits is because of things being pumped out by boats...."

That is so wrong it's not even funny.

That's certainly not the major contributing factor but it is a factor.
Just how many pump out stations are there in the VI and how many of the hundreds of boaters use them?

We all contribute to our water pollution with the chemicals, pesticides, outdated septic tanks and leech fields, oil and other contaminants, lack of recycling, etc.

One only has to look in our bays after any heavy rain and see the results.
Often, our beaches are deemed high in enterococci bacteria without any rain.
Mostly, I might add, beaches that have resorts on them as we are woefully behind with regard to EPA standards.

Here's a correction on the Source article.

Editor's note: The Source imstakenly reported the proposed fees were per month. The proposed increased fees are per year. As for the fees quoted in this story for other jurisdictions, the Source has relied solely upon statements made by senators and testifiers during this hearing.

It seems just a tad ironic that the most vociferous opponents of any increase are those who can actually well afford it. If you can afford a nice pleasure boat moored at a nice yacht club with hefty membership dues ...

$5 per foot per year is redicoulusly low comparing to cost of docking the boat which runs about $12000 per year.

The hike in fees should return to boating community. Built pump out stations, public dinghy docs. That would benefit all.

Dumping the holding tanks is allowed 3 miles off shore. Should not affect the beaches. Do we have sewer processing plant?
All this septic tanks here are marginal. I can always smell septic after heavy rain. All this stuff tricles down to the ocean. After all STT is a solid rock.

It seems just a tad ironic that the most vociferous opponents of any increase are those who can actually well afford it. If you can afford a nice pleasure boat moored at a nice yacht club with hefty membership dues ...

(tu)

It seems just a tad ironic that the most vociferous opponents of any increase are those who can actually well afford it. If you can afford a nice pleasure boat moored at a nice yacht club with hefty membership dues ...

(tu)

Not quite. Maybe for the pleasure boating community, but for the charter boat companies (especially those on STX) it's an added hardship. Wapa for our storefronts, cost of maintaining coastguard inspected vessels, gross receipts taxes, mortgages, insurance, general maintenance etc etc.it's difficult. Not everyone who owns a boat is loaded.

If DPNR would actually do something like patrol, provide security, provide facilities for boaters (completely lacking in St Croix, especially in Frederiksted), the mooring fee increase would be justified.

Disclosure: I own a boat and small charter business in Stx. My kayak was stolen tonight off my mooring, probably at dusk or even in broad daylight. 3 weeks ago, my dinghy was stolen, hence the need for the kayak as a tender. I'll gladly pay an increased fee for garunteed security. Doubt that they can actually provide that. Just like my taxes are supposed to pay for the roads, education, public services etc etc...I've contacted the coastguard, DPNR, VIPD and port authority and Senate to voice my concerns.

With all due respect I don't believe that any part of DPNR's job is to provide security for marine craft.

Not everyone has megabucks to go with their megayachts.
This new fee effects all boats, not just those that can amply afford it.
I agree fees should be raised but those fees should include service.
I'm not sure exactly what services, if any, DPNR provides for the fees they presently charge.

Anyone?