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With more and more people using the waterways , they certainly get their money from the taxes and fees already in place. But any chance it's to offset the additional stress that the massive "Covid got me into outdoor recreation" crowd may theoretically be causing?
Meanwhile our lakes and rivers are more polluted than ever. Our infrastructure for sewer waste is essentially non existent to the point where they have stopped even reporting the massive spills in the waterways anymore and our boat launches are typically some of the poorest maintained launches in the country. But they really need another $20 from us.
YOU get what you vote for.
The one good thing to this is the people that buy a paddleboard or kayak and don't buy a license, register a boat/trailer, or buy bait/tackle will have to pay to play.
WELL, I DIDN'T VOTE FOR ANY OF THIS, OR THOSE THAT ARE SELECTED TO OFFICE AND WROTE THIS STUPID TAX LAW IN THE FIRST PLACE!I am certainly a disenfranchised voter, to the point of taxation without representation...
I agree with you, on the fact that the additional taxation isn't warranted. Please don't mistake my question as a dispute of the fact. BUT, I DO have a question in the works. You have been a member of this board a long time, and have posted some great content in the time that I've been a member. You are likely a better fisherman than myself, and you obviously are incredibly passionate about the lifestyle, as most of us are. The burning question is: Are the fish you catch and the memories you make NOT worth an extra 20 bucks, even if the state is entirely wrong in asking for it? I don't catch a ton of fish, but I'd happily pay the additional 20 bucks for the chance to try. Not trying to dig ya in any way, I just wanted to fully see your POV as a fellow angler, and what better way than to ask
I say a better plan would be similar to what Colorado does. No one is allowed to use any State boat launch without its operator owning a fishing license. Then let that revenue funnel where it needs to through VTF&W. All those kayakers and paddleboarders clogging the boat ramps and not contributing to the maintenance of those ramps need to pay up.