Manatee County is exploring the possibility of collecting launch fees at public boat ramps.
At a June 17 meeting of the county board, Commissioner Tal Siddique, R-District 3, motioned to direct staff to research a potential fee structure and compile revenue projections and implementation plans.
Commission Chair George Kruse, R-District 7, seconded the motion, which passed 6-1. Commissioner Bob McCann, R-District 5, voted no.
This isn’t the first time commissioners looked at launch fees. In 2019, the board discussed fees but the proposal failed to gain traction.
The county operates nine saltwater boat ramps, including four between northwest Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. The facilities offer 234 trailer spaces.
“In addition to pretty expensive capital outlays … there are a lot of regular maintenance activities or amenities that people ask for,” Siddique said of ramps.
“I think it just needs a bit of a self-sustaining funding source.”
“The ask today is just for staff … to come back and present us with a bit of a plan for implementation. To see if the juice is really worth the squeeze,” he also said.
Siddique said any fees would apply to boat launches not general parking.
Commissioner James Bearden, R-District 6, pushed back.
“Sounds like a double taxation to me,” he said.
Bearden said the proposal could run counter to his values. “I think that we need to keep our waters free, our government small and protect the interest of the taxpayers,” he said.
Kruse expressed conditional support, favoring a fee system for parking that targets noncounty users.
“It’s the lack of parking, not the lack of people launching boats,” Kruse said.
“I know on the beaches… there is an opportunity to use license-plate readers or other things to only charge non-Manatee County people,” Kruse said. “So they’re not being double taxed.”
Kruse specifically referred to boaters from Hillsborough launching at Manatee ramps.
Hillsborough County collects $5 to launch at boat ramps.
Staff is expected to return to the board with a proposal, including cost projections and policy options.