Opposition kills controversial fee for boaters

A controversial and expensive “coastal waters permit” was removed from the final version of the budget passed by North Carolina legislators. Legislators planned to use the revenue from the fee, ranging from $75 for a 24-foot boat to $1,300 for the largest of vessels, to increase maintenance dredging funds needed for many inlets and key areas.

Boaters and manufacturers opposed this fee because registration fees were already increased in 2013 to raise money to pay for dredging projects. The final state budget sets aside other state funds to pay for the dredging maintenance operations.