California boating gets new tax revenue

When excise taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel go up in California this fall, the California Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) will receive a small portion of the new revenue. Fuel excise taxes have not been increased in 20 years. Legislative analysts expect the increased excise taxes, as well as significantly higher car registration fees, will raise $52 billion over the next 10 years. Using the state’s current distribution formula, the increased taxes will add about $800 million to parks, off-highway vehicle and boating programs. It is unclear what percentage of the new revenue will be distributed to DBW.