Boating News
County may levy new tax on Florida Keys boaters
BY Steve Gibbs
KEY LARGO -- The cost of owning a boat in the Florida Keys could soon be going up if the Monroe County Commission approves a proposed boat registration ordinance.
Like many Keys' families are discovering, money is in short supply. That holds true as well for countywide boating improvement issues, and demands for that money are increasing almost daily.
"Water quality is the issue, and we're getting to the point where money is reaching the limits," said George Garrett, director of marine resources for Monroe County.
So, on the agenda for the county commission meeting in Marathon on Dec. 18 will be an item to create an ordinance to increase the annual boat registration fees for the 25,000-plus boats registered with the state in Monroe County.
The state now collects an annual fee of $18.50 for boats under 26 feet. State law allows a county an increase of up to 50 percent of that amount for its own use.
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