The Town of Prescott is looking into charging boats by the foot at the Marina in 2019.
In the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday night, Matthew Armstrong discussed seasonal boat slip rentals, for boats under 19 feet, in the marina would be charged by the foot instead of the flat rate. The flat rate is what has been done in the past. The idea was adopted as part of the 2018 budget, but because boaters generally sign leases in the first quarter of the year and the budget wasn’t passed until April 23rd, the rates did not change to this way in 2018. Below is what the town outlined as the rates from 2017, 2018 and proposed for 2019.
Classification 2017 Rates 2018 Rates 2019 Proposed
14-16 feet $403 flat rate $411 flat rate $52.00 per foot
17-19 feet $449 flat rate $458 flat rate $52.00 per foot
Above 19 feet $50.00 per foot $51.00 per foot $52.00 per foot
Above 19 feet with electricity $55.60 per foot $56.70 per foot $57.80 per foot
Pump Out $81.60/season $83.20/season $84.80/season
Sea Doo $357 flat rate $364 flat rate $371 flat rate
*Numbers provided by Town of Prescott
In the report brought to the committee, it said the change in rates would affect between 25 and 30 boat owners and would generate around $13,000 more revenue. In the 2018 budget, the marina was expected to cost $363,283 while generating revenue of $344,650 which included an intended change in the basis upon boats under
20 feet were being billed.
Mayor Brett Todd says it is a little tough to swallow in one year because the per foot rate proposed would double the price. He also questioned if, because there isn’t a one size fits all with taxation in municipalities, would it be possible to charge the larger boats more to make up the difference and get to the same point of revenue. Todd adds the larger boats generally require more staff time and are a little more demanding of the facility. Todd says this has got to be a facility that makes the town money.
One option staff had, as an alternative, was to phase in the increase with 50-percent of the difference in 2019 and the full rate in 2020.
At the meeting, it was a four to three vote to phase the per foot rate over two years. The rates will be brought back to council.
