Supervisors debate whether or not to eliminate boat tax

by Larry Chowning –

The last time Middlesex County supervisors adjusted the boat tax rate was in the fiscal year 2019 (FY19) budget when on a 3–2 vote the budget was approved reducing tax on five-ton boats. This amounted to $168,000 annually in lost tax revenues.

Supervisors, however, made up for those lost revenues, and more by approving the largest tax increase in the history of the county.

Jamaica District Supervisor Wayne Jessie said at a March 22 budget work session as he remembered the 2019 budget that he voted against, “If we cut out the boat tax this year, it just means someone else has to pay more taxes to make up for what someone else is not paying.”

Marina rep Farinholt speaks

On March 22, Deltaville marina owner Jon Farinholt, representing other marina owners, spoke in favor of eliminating the boat tax. The main argument is that if supervisors do not eliminate or lower the boat tax, the county is going to continue to lose tax revenues as the tax-free counties continue to take business away from Middlesex County marinas.

Lud Kimbrough

Pinetop District Supervisor Lud Kimbrough supports reducing the personal property tax on boats to re-start growth in the recreational boating sector, he said.

Middlesex County is facing lost tax revenues due to decline in the marina values, he said. “Marina owners have to compensate for the tax by discounting slip fees, leaving them less profitable so less valuable,” he said.

A warning to taxpayers

No matter how supervisors address the boat tax, Harmony Village Supervisor Reggie Williams had a dismal message for taxpayers at the meeting when he said “taxes are going to increase” for most residents in the county.

Williams agreed with Jessie when he said, “When you give something away, somebody else has got to pay for it!”