Send letter NOW to oppose the elimination of the Department of Boating and Waterways

[saltierdog]

Recreational Boaters of California (RBOC) urgently needs you to email comments and disseminate this information to your members, urging them to submit comments to the Commission.

Governor Brown previously proposed to eliminate the Department of Boating and Waterways in his Budget proposal. He has altered that approach.

Elimination of the department is now bundled into a "Reorganization Plan". This is procedurally very different.
The Reorganization Plan will be considered by the 'Little Hoover Commission' which must either recommend for or against the plan.

RBOC will be testifying in opposition to the plan on Wednesday, April 25.
We will deliver 3,500 letters to the Governor from boaters opposing the plan.

We would like every boater to send comments to the Commission using the link below.

Information about the department is attached below; it can be used by individuals making comments.

Cleve Hardaker
RBOC President

************************************************** **

Little Hoover Commission Hearing Set
Boaters are encouraged to testify in opposition to the Governor's proposed elimination of the Department of Boating and Waterways.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
9:00 am – 11:00 am -- Hearing
11:00 am – 1:00 pm -- Public Comments
Employment Development Department Auditorium
722 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814

for the details on this hearing
http://www.lhc.ca.gov/reorg/reorg/GR...grp1_2012.html

to submit your comments to the Commission.
http://www.lhc.ca.gov/reorg/comments.html

or use this email address
littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov

sample letter
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ELIMINATION OF DEPARTMENT OF BOATING AND WATERWAYS -‐ OPPOSED

I strongly oppose the Governor's reorganization proposal to eliminate the Department of Boating and Waterways [Cal Boating] and re-constitute the department as a division within the Department of Parks and Recreation.

The State's more than 3 million boating enthusiasts must have a department with a Director whose primary focus is boating.

Cal Boating has a compact organizational structure and administers boating and in a timely and non-bureaucratic manner. Its statutory charter is directly boating related.

Cal Boating provides accountability, transparency and leadership regarding the collection and use of boater derived taxes and fees, and the best uses of these funds to benefit boating.

Eliminating Cal Boating would not save a single General Fund dollar. The department is funded by boater fuel tax dollars, boat registration fees, and interest payments on infrastructure loans.

Cal Boating creates jobs through loans and grants of boater funds for boating infrastructure throughout the state that ensures boater access to waterways.

The department is a model of efficiency in operating State mandates.

Boating infrastructure funding will decline dramatically if Cal Boating loans are eliminated. Commercial funding is difficult or unavailable for non-real-estate financing for boating infrastructure.


sincerely
name
address

SEE ATTACHED FILE FOR MORE DETAILS

[pennywise666]

So why do we want more goverment? Can we get rid of the boat taxes along with this part of the goverment?

[campbellc0321]

Break it down shotgun style Joe. Not sure I follow what your pushing.

[tailsurfer]

same here... what is the bad side of this?

do you have any slipperyslope argunments to add to make this easier to understand.

[iamasalmon]

It looks like Parks and Rec will continue to collect taxes without funding boating programs.

If this is the case, people need to know that in clear, unambiguous language.
"Thats's a lot of long words and we are not but humble pirates". -Capt Barbosa

[toptuna]

Originally Posted by pennywise666

So why do we want more goverment? Can we get rid of the boat taxes along with this part of the goverment?

I agree. Less gov. Less headaches.

[saltierdog]

RBOC represents fishing interests on the water
they supported us during the MLPA meetings
unfortunately their full power came into play late in the game as they were not invited to participate by the enviros and our interests were divided by lack of unity between FIN and UA until late october (external A and B)

pretty much it goes like this
you pay fuel tax on the water, launch ramp fees, parking fees and slip fees and the state will now take that money and use it to balance the budget
like the present diversion of fishing license fees which are supposed to pay for restocking getting dumped into the general fund

the diversion of funds may result in rapid deterioration in California’s boating waterways and infrastructure, as DBW provides millions of dollars in grants and loans to private and public entities to help make boating infrastructure projects feasible. For example, DBW has provided grants and loans to the County Department of Beaches and Harbors for coastal and boating infrastructure projects such as: $777,000 to reconstruct the boat launch facility in Marina del Rey; a $23.5 million loan for the maintenance of the Marina del Rey seawall; and $18,000 to replace the pump- out station at the transient public docks at Chace Park in Marina del Rey, the Fire Department’s Lifeguard Division receives over $2 million annually from DBW for its rescue boat operations, safety training, and boat engine replacements and other boat equipment.. Without the availability of this funding, many County projects and other statewide boating infrastructure improvement and repair projects will be severely cut and/or curtailed.

[lazybean]

Originally Posted by toptuna

I agree. Less gov. Less headaches.

Not true. Instead of having a part of the state government we can deal directly with, who only deal with boating/fishing related items. We will get to deal with the main departments, who deal with EVERYTHING. Thats were the real headache is.

[pennywise666]

Why not just realize ca owes more than we can or want to pay so declare bankruptsy and start over? Maybe we can get rid of a bunch of taxes that way too? We can tell all the goverment workers they no longer can afford to live here so they will have to move to the desert. Nevada and Arizona have extra room for them so does Detroit, houses are like 20k there. Them leaving will lower prices for me!



I love the idea of less goverment.

[5869]

Re-rail.

Thanks for keeping us informed Joe. I would have been unaware. I will do my part.

[Tino Bernazzani]

Done...
Took 60 seconds.

[soupfin]

For all of us who use the gaviota hoist. The major maint. and repair is funded by the Dept. of boating and waterways.

No more money= no more hoist.



Eric

[Blue Man]

Thanks for the follow-up explanation that clarified why this is important. I just sent the e-mail.