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Pasco To Charge Boat Launch Fee

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: June 11, 2008

HOLIDAY - Gasoline prices are up. Food prices are up.

What's next?

A boat launch fee is in the works at Pasco County's Anclote River Park.

The county probably will be ready by Oct. 1, the start of its 2009 fiscal year, to begin charging $5 to use the launch, according to Frederick "Rick" Buckman, the county's parks and recreation director.

The county already charges $5 for overnight parking of boats at the ramp.

In an e-mail message to a reporter, one area boater, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed dismay at the proposed launching fee at a time when product costs and government fees are increasing. Most boaters have simple a craft that allow them to enjoy fishing once in a while, the e-mail writer proclaimed.

The writer would prefer to see a $1 entrance fee imposed on everyone using the parking as an alternative to the $5 launching fee targeting boaters.

"This is the first complaint I have seen on this issue," Buckman said Friday. "I also received a recommendation to charge a fee to help operate, staff and maintain the park and its amenities."

The boat launch fee "will most likely take affect on Oct. 1 after we get the fee machine in place," Buckman said.

"State funds were used to build the park and boat ramps, therefore everyone using this facility will be treated equally," Buckman continued.

"We will probably do an annual pass, which will provide a discount for those who use the ramp a lot which should help the Pasco County citizenry."

At New Port Richey, the city does not charge any fee for the boat launch on the Pithlachascotee River near the Main Street bridge.

"We have no plans at the current moment to charge for use of the boat ramps," Parks and Recreation Director Elaine Smith said.

Boaters only recently became aware of the new county boat launch fee as park crews install the machinery at Anclote River Park.

The fee was approved at a March 25 County Commission public hearing.

The boat launch fee, however, was among a package of nearly five dozen park and recreation fee changes for campgrounds, swimming pools, sports recreation leagues, summer day camps and many more programs that have been heavily subsidized in the past.

The fee increases were inspired largely by changes to the state's property tax system. With the county collecting less revenue, user fees have to make up part of the difference, according to a March 3 county memo.

Higher user fees could generate an extra $400,000 for the county general fund, Buckman wrote in the memo.

"Charging a modest $5 boat trailer parking fee at Anclote River Park is estimated to generate approximately $80,000 per year," Buckman wrote in the March memo. "However, there will be an initial, one-time capital cost of about $8,600."

Buckman and his staff had researched fees charged by 20 other cities and counties in Florida to keep the Pasco fees at or below the average cost, according to the March memo.

Carl Orth can be reached at 727-815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

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