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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 08071990 - 2.8 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: (` Phil Batchelor, County Administrator x COSta ` County DATE: August 3 , 1990 c�srgcGuN`['i - SUBJECT: ADVISORY BALLOT MEASURE TO DETERMINE VOTER SUPPORT FOR AN INCREASE IN BOAT REGISTRATION FEES DEDICATED TO MARINE PATROL SPECIFIC REOUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION• Determine whether the Board of Supervisors wishes to. place on the November 6, 1990 ballot an advisory measure designed to determine the level of voter support for an increase in the boat registration fee from $5 to $12, with the increased revenue being dedicated to support of the Marine Patrol. BACKGROUND: On July 31, 1990 Supervisor Torlakson presented the attached report to the Board recommending that an advisory measure be placed on the ballot to determine the level of voter support for legislation which would increase the boat registration fee with the proceeds of the increase dedicated to the Sheriff' s Marine Patrol. Prior to the 1989-90 fiscal year the Sheriff-Coroner operated a Marine Patrol Program consisting of 6 boats staffed with 30 crew shifts per week. In 1986, the Marine Patrol assisted boaters on 260 occasions. There were 460 hours of time dedicated to search and rescue. This was considered absolutely essential because of the 200 square miles of waterways for which the Sheriff is responsible, stretching from Richmond to Antioch. The Marine Patrol was responsible for providing traffic enforcement on the waterways, stopping boats which were speeding, citing boat operators who were driving their boats while intoxicated and generally insuring that the waterways of the County were safe places in which to operate a boat. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENTYP S YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR -RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE -OTHER SIGNATURE(S): a X� ACTION OF BOARD ON Aucjij Ct 7., 1990 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER - VOTE OF SUPERVISORS ' 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT - - ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC: ATTESTED August 7, 1990 PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR (Please see Page 3 . BY M382 (10/88) E '" -', ,DEPUTY l -2- With the substantial budget problems with which the Board of Supervisors was faced a year ago in balancing the 1989-90 budget, the Marine Patrol services were cut by 850. Now only 2 boats are operated, staffed by 7 crew shifts a week. Boater assists have dropped to less than 55 and search and rescue hours to only 60. "Low priority" activities have now been defined to include vessel accident investigations, enforcement actions against intoxicated boat operators and safety inspections of boats. While an "adequate" Marine Patrol is estimated to cost about $700,000 a year, the current budget allows only $160, 000 per year. The County and the cities receive personal property taxes from those boats which are housed in Contra Costa County. The cities are free to use their share of these personal property taxes as general revenue to support their city budgets. None of their revenue currently goes to support the Marine Patrol, even though the majority of boat owners probably live within cities and benefit from the safety and traffic enforcement measures taken by the Sheriff' s Marine Patrol. In addition to personal property taxes, boat owners pay a $5 per year registration fee to the Department of Motor Vehicles, much as do motor vehicle owners. A portion of this registration fee can be made available to counties by the Department of Boating and Waterways in the form of grants to support such water-oriented activities as the Marine Patrol, but only when the County demonstrates that all of the personal property tax revenue received by the County has been dedicated to eligible programs such as the Marine Patrol. The County receives approximately $500, 000 per year in such personal property taxes on boats, but is currently only spending $160, 000 of this revenue on the Marine Patrol. The balance of the funds had to be transferred to the General Fund to finance other essential services. Thus, the County's current $50,000 in grants from the Department of Boating and Waterways could be in jeopardy. In addition, it is clear that the County is not going to be eligible for any such grants in the future. Several actions have been taken in an effort to obtain additional revenue to allow the restoration of the Marine Patrol: 1 . Letters have been sent to the owners of each of the marinas in the County, urging that they write their state legislators indicating their support for the Marine Patrol. Specifically, support was requested for an increase in the boat registration fee from $5 to . $12, with the increased revenue to be dedicated to the Marine Patrol. In addition, the marina operators were asked to urge their city councils to agree to allocate the personal property tax revenue which they receive from boat ownership to the Sheriff for the Marine Patrol. 2 . Letters have been sent to each city directly explaining the critical problem with the funding of the Marine Patrol and asking the city to agree to dedicate its personal property tax revenue from boat ownership to the Marine Patrol. 3 . Letters have been sent to each marina operator and boating association in the County, along with a survey form for their members, asking whether individual boat owners would be willing to support an increase in their registration fee from $5 to $12 if the additional revenue were dedicated to the Marine Patrol. -3- 4. Members of the Board of Supervisors have met with the County' s legislative delegation in an effort to explain to the County' s delegation the reasons why the County wanted to see an increase in the registration fee. Legislation to accomplish this has been drafted and is ready for introduction. 5. Plans are being made to solicit voluntary contributions from individual citizens to be dedicated to the Sheriff ' s Marine Patrol. If the Board of Supervisors places an advisory measure on the ballot in November and if it receives a substantial level of support from the voters it is possible that a member of this County' s delegation would author legislation to increase the boat registration fees. However, we have no such commitment from any member of the County' s delegation, although Assemblyman Campbell. has shown some interest in such legislation. However, other members of the County' s delegation have thus far opposed such an increase unless and until the County dedicates all of its personal property tax revenue to the Marine Patrol. The Department of Boating and Waterways has likewise indicated that at this time they would oppose such a tax increase. If legislation were introduced to increase the boat registration fee it could not be introduced until the beginning of the 1991-92 Session of the Legislature. Assuming it were possible to get the legislation through in one year, the legislation would be effective January 1, 1992 . However, all such registrations expire on December 31 of each year (Vehicle Code Section 9861) . Therefore, it is unlikely that the increased fee could be assessed until the registration which is due on December 31, 1992. Therefore, while such an increase cannot be of assistance in restoring the Marine Patrol' s level of service for the 1990-91 fiscal year, it could provide a permanent source of funding in the future. cc: County Administrator County Counsel County Clerk Elections Supervisor Sheriff-Coroner Treasurer-Tax Collector Auditor-Controller TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS C;on`ra FROM: Tom Torlakson --'' Costa County Supervisor, District 5 �a,;� _. • " DATE: August 7, 1990 SUBJECT: Marine Patrol Funding - Advisory Ballot Measure and Voluntary Contributions SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Direct the presentation of the following advisory measure to the voters of Contra Costa County for their approval or denial on the November 6, 1990 election ballot: Should state legislation be passed to increase the annual boat registration fee from $5/year to $12/year within Contra Costa County provided that such increase shall be dedicated to Marine Patrol services including, but not limited to, boat safety law enforcement, intoxicated operator enforcement and rescue operations? 2 . Direct the County Clerk (Elections Clerk) to take all steps necessary to place this advisory vote measure on the November. 61 1990 ballot for the County and conduct this election with any other- elections scheduled on November 6, 1990. 3 . Direct the County Treasurer to establish a "Marine Patrol Funding" trust account dedicated to the support of the Marine Patrol. Such account shall be used to hold contributions from citizens, citizen groups, cities and other parties. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S) : ACTION OF BOARD ON August 7, 1990 APPROVED AS RECOM24ENDED x OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT - - ) TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. cc: County Administrator ATTESTED August 7, 1990 Sheriff PHIL BATCHELOR,, CLERK OF County Treasurer THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS County Clerk (Elections) AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY , � ,L,a , DEPUTY