MIKE WHITEHEAD
Ahoy.
The seas are getting rough for the California Department of
Boating and Waterways as a new report is viewing the department's
funding as free money. Presently underway is the state's
reorganization plan being developed by the California Performance
Review process, and it does not include the department of boating and
waterways. As such, the recreational boaters of California have
issued an urgent call to arms along with the Western Boaters Safety
Group calling to boaters to save the department.
The department of boating and waterways receives its primary
funding directly from a boating fuel tax and none from the state's
general fund. The boater's tax is returned to boating projects and
for infrastructure that helps to provide $17 billion a year to
California's gross state product. So, the short-sightedness by our
liberal-spending legislators can negatively effect our boating,
similar to our road taxes being siphoned away from our highways.
The department of boating and waterways is a self-sustaining state
agency that is directly paid for by the users (boaters), and I find
it very disturbing that now the department might be eliminated only
so others can get to their dedicated funding.
This does affect Newport Harbor and local boating, as the money
will be redirected to other uses. Funding for pump-out stations,
marina grants and loans, law enforcement training, and the very
important boater education are all threatened by the California
Performance Review process. It is difficult for the average boater to
find out what is happening in Sacramento with the approximately 250
people in 14 teams working on the review the process as
recommendations are secretive with the reorganization probably
initiating in January 2005.
I have listed below a sample letter from the Recreational Boaters
of California (http://www.rboc.org) who are asking boaters to send
them a signed copy of this letter. You can send your letter by fax to
(916) 441-3520, e-mail to rboc@rboc.org, or mail to RBOC, 925 L
Street, Suite 220, Sacramento, CA 95814.
The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor
State of California
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: California Performance Review Request Not to Eliminate Cal
Boating
Dear Gov. Schwarzenegger:
As a recreational boater, I urge you not to eliminate the
California Department of Boating and Waterways in the Reorganization
Plan that is being developed by The California Performance Review
process.
