A topic that I haven’t talked about in some time is New Jersey’s I BOAT NJ program. For a little background into this “dedicated fund” we’d have to go back 22 years to the summer of 2002 when New Jersey’s 2003 fiscal year budget was approved containing a boater registration fee increase. The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee approved the fee increase outlined in Assembly Bill No. 2506 as part of an omnibus budget package, with fees for the initial numbering of all vessels, and then for each renewal certificate issued after.
While this “tax” increase on boat registrations was done as a means to grab money from boaters in order to fill general budget gaps in Trenton, the folks at the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey (MTA/NJ) went to work to make sure that boaters weren’t getting fleeced. They ultimately succeeded in getting state law changed to ensure that the revenues derived from the fee increase were directed to I BOAT NJ, a program managed by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) and its Office of Maritime Resources.
In turn, the I BOAT NJ Program went on to provide grant funds to selected eligible applicants to promote, improve and enhance the marine industry in New Jersey for the benefit of the general boating public. In other words, a new tax increase was levied against the boating public, and MTA/NJ – as the boating public’s watchdog in Trenton – was able to ensure that this money went back to improving the boating experience in New Jersey. To borrow a phrase from a few old timers, it was turned into taxation with representation.
So now we leapfrog to the summer of 2024, as the New Jersey Legislature is enjoying their traditional summer recess following passage and signing of New Jersey’s 2025 fiscal year budget. Once again, monies taken from registered boaters – earmarked under Section 12 of New Jersey state law (C. 12:7-34.47) to go back to enhancing New Jersey boating – are now being used to fill miscellaneous holes in the state budget. Considering the fact that the $56 billion dollar budget is over $700 million higher than the last Fiscal Year, it shouldn’t come as much as a surprise that we in the fishing and boating community are again being asked to foot more of the bill.
“We once again were left frustrated by the refusal of the Governor’s office to eliminate budget language that has allowed boater registration fees to be used by the State DOT for maintenance and operations,” said Rob Nixon who lobbies in Trenton on behalf of the MTA/NJ, its members, and ultimately the MTA/NJ customers. “As a result, the I BOAT NJ grant program will go unfunded for another fiscal year,” he added.
Nixon said the process to renew I BOAT NJ was several months in the making and involved a coordinated lobbying effort to put the issue before top budget decision makers in the Governor’s office and at the state Legislature, including meeting with DOT senior staff and state Treasury officials, while working to develop a legislative plan with elected officials on an I BOAT resolution.
“These discussions went on for several months, even when the budget process was dormant, and we were advised that our resolution was incorporated into the draft budget document that was to be introduced to the Budget Committees on June 26th for passage,” Nixon said.
“It was at that time unfortunately that we were informed that the Governor’s office ‘rejected out of hand’ making our change despite support from legislative leaders and the DOT to do it,” Nixon said, adding that they are working to learn more about why the language was removed and what needs to be done to restore this boating grant program.
Please Mr. Nixon, do tell Governor Murphy I said hello.
