By Jim Bloch
It is now more expensive to launch your watercraft at the 12th Street boat ramp and the Riverside boat ramp in Port Huron.
Residents will see their seasonal boat launch permits increase from $24 to $25, a hike of four percent. Nonresidents, on the other hand, will pay $50 for a seasonal permit, up from $24, an increase of over 100 percent.
Daily launch permits for residents have increased from $6 to $10, an increase of 66 percent.
Daily launch permits for nonresidents jumped more than 300 percent, from $6 to $20.
The city council unanimously approved the resolution containing the increases, which it referred to as “adjustments,” at its regular meeting April 13.
City officials estimated that 80 percent of boat ramp users are nonresidents.
The resolution laid out the reasoning behind the increases.
“Over the past 15 years the city has invested more than $1.2 million in capital outlay to construct, improve, and maintain the city’s boat launch facilities,” the resolution said. “The annual operating cost, including depreciation of capital costs, is approximately $85,600. Currently the boat ramps generate approximately $41,000 annually in revenue resulting in a net operational loss of more than $44,000 per year.”
The goal of the increases is to close that gap and “improve financial sustainability.” The resolution said that the increases were a “fair and reasonable” measure to ensure affordable boat launching for residents.
Why are city residents paying less than nonresidents?
“If you’re a city resident, you are paying not only a parks and recreation millage, but also your property taxes,” said Freed, as heard on the recording of the meeting posted on YouTube.
In fact, all property owners in the county pay the millage.
“So, charging our residents the same would actually be charging them twice,” Freed said. “We are not alone in this. Marysville offers a rate of $50 per year. So does the city of St. Clair.”
In fact, the annual permit in Marysville is $55 for nonresidents.
“In Marysville, they (let) residents (launch for) free, but we can’t afford that,” Freed said. “So, we’ll give them a discount at $25. We essentially matched the communities around us and what they charge for their boat launch fees.”
St. Clair charges a daily launch fee of $7, not $10 like Port Huron. Canoes and kayaks launch for free. The city does not distinguish between residents and nonresidents.
“For the township residents that don’t like it, there’s a boat launch in Fort Gratiot and at Bakersfield (Park in Port Huron Township) that you can use as well,” said Freed.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
