APS, I had read a statement detailing the MP budget. Let me see if my old mind can remember the gist of it.
Apparently, they had a fund that was growing a little bit for a rainy day. The annual budgets, combined with decreasing registrations, had slowly eroded the fund. In addition, costs have steadily risen. The MP has had cutbacks and a decline in personnel as a result. So while they have doubled the fees, they have effectively taken that amount out of the equation.
$3 million budget, less half funded by CG. $1.5 million is the balance, which has been subsidized by the fund balance, which was in decline. They take $700,000, roughly half. So nope, not an increase. The registration increase was supported because of the MP's statement that costs were outstripping their funds. The Legislature had increased their costs, so it was only fair.
In the end, the registration increase became a general fund tax that boater's pay. The MP loses, at least this year.
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