Action Alert! Senate Bill 443

Motorboard Gas Tax Formula Adjustment
For Lakes and Water Programs
2/20/02
Senate Bill 443, which adjusts the motorboat gas tax formula to reflect a fairer share for lakes, and also supports rivers and wetlands grants and nonpoint source control programs, was introduced on February 13.
 
The bill can be viewed at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2001/data/SB-443.pdf.  The bill has attracted bipartisan support from both the Senate and Assembly.  A hearing has been scheduled by the Senate Environmental Resources Committee on February 28 at 10 a.m. in Room 300 SE of the state Capitol.  If possible, please plan to attend.
 
Also, please ask members of the Senate Environmental Resources Committee and your local legislators to support SB443 – the fair allocation of the motorboat gas tax to support water programs.
Members of the Senate Environmental Resources Committee are:
In SB 443, Sen. Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) and other legislators propose a comprehensive measure to correct the underestimate of motorboat gas tax revenues and provide support for critical water resources programs.  The proposal would adjust the formula used to estimate state tax revenues from fuel sold to motorboat operators.

It is not a new tax, and will not increase the amount paid at the pump.  Currently the formula estimates annual, per boat consumption of 50 gallons.  The accuracy of that figure has been criticized by Wisconsin Association of Lakes, the members of the Wisconsin Stewardship Network, and other conservation groups as outdated because it is based on the types of boats and motors in use in 1989.

In the last decade, these have changed dramatically, with much of the current small craft fleet now personal watercraft and other vessels with significantly higher fuel consumption than the open hull boats with small outboards in common use years ago.

The proposal would raise the estimated annual fuel consumption to 80 gallons annually, the amount proposed by Wisconsin DNR in its last budget proposal.  Under Cowles plan, the increased funding would be used for several priority water resources initiatives.  The major provisions would:

CONTACTING YOUR LEGISLATORS

Don’t know who they are?  Go to the Wisconsin State Legislature home page: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/.  For those of you not hot-linked to the web-world, write to:  Your Representative (last name A-L, P.O. Box 8952; last name M-Z, P.O. Box 8953), Madison, WI 53708, Your Senator, P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707.

 
If you don’t know who your legislators are, or want to leave a message for the Senator or Representative who represents the district in which you live, call the toll-free hot line at the capitol (1-800-362-9472 or 266-9960 locally).
 
 
Sample Letter to your Legislator
Dear (Legislator):

As a person/lakes organization (state your interest in lakes or other water resources), I/we strongly encourage you to support SB443, the fair allocation of the gas tax attributable to gas purchased for motorized boats.

This bill will increase the oversubscribed lakes grants program by $1.4 million, as well as support river and wetlands grants and nonpoint source control programs.  (A good thing to mention here would be if you have benefited from lakes grant funding the past or are planning on it in the future for currently or newly eligible activities - such as shoreland and littoral zone restoration projects, aquatic plant management plans, small-scale educational activities).

Thank you for your consideration and support.

- Your Name, address, telephone, or e-mail
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