Minutes 05/02/1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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443 ~1989 Boa t Tax As you know, the City Council reduced the boat tax rate in 1986 from $4.35 per $100 of valuation to $0.50~ with the expectation that the number of boats would increase significantly. That increase has taken place, as the number of registered boats rose from 2,142 in 1985 to-3,t55 in 1988.~ Our~r~search shows tha the lower tax rate was one of several ~actors contributing increase, ~ot only in Portsmouth, but in, the other Hampton Roads cities; A~stro~g national economy and tne availabil~tv_ = of -_inexpensive' fue~ were also very important factors. Currently, ortsmoutn~has ~he Lowest boat tax rate of any~Hampton Roads city. ~he others rang9 from~$1~00 to~$1.50, with-the exception of Suf-fotk's rate ~f $3.t5. ~.Also,,~here is str6ng ~vidence~that the lower boat tax has encouraged tne development~of new marinas and the expansion of the existing ones along our waterways. ~beIi~ve needed~revenue, surrounding cit~ $0.75.~.While ~ the ratetevied reluCtant to su( jeopardize the ~ alon~oothbran¢ hat the tax rate should~be increased to raise while bringing Portsmouth's-rate more in line with es. I~, therefore, propose increasin~ the rate to is is a 50% increase, the new rate is still below in 1985 and in surrounding communities. I ~m gest any further increase because I do not want t¢ lanned waterfront developments in Scotts Creek an~ hes Of the Elizabeth River.~I ~eet that Por~smo~th~b~c~use of its geographical location and unde,r~u~mIized ,~aterfront property, can beya-boat~ng center for the~C(~mr~0nwealth, and a major tourist attraction~ To aid in this development, however, we must remain competitive in the boat tax. Last year, the Police Department and Parks and-Reereati6n monitored boating activity at City Park to ensdre that boats trailered by vehicles w~th Portsmouth decals also' nad the requlre~ Portsmouth~bo~t decal. ' I~will ask the Polioe Department to work closesty w~th~ th,~ Commissioner of the RevenueI to~ develop methods t¢ ensure ltha~boats docked at marinas in Portsmouth. a~so have ~he Pott.smoUth~ boat,~decal and are' on the City's~tax roll, if appropr ia~e, .... · . Machinery and Tool Tax,,.. · ~ ~h~Mac~in~ry and TooliTax rate has ~oh been~ increased since 1981~ I am recommending tha? it be raised from $1,75 to $2.00 pez $i00~ Valuat~ion in order to snare~ the tax burden w~ith our manufacturers as ~- I t~av~~ the ~ ~e~s~e nt,' necessary due t Sou t ~'~t ern Put inc rease~ its't the State' Depar~ its new ~landfil~] co~n i~ty ~in th~ process of wo~ regul,a~ions~ - S~ covering the expanded landf ii i nc r~as',~: ~i'n dispope of o~' well as our residents. Garbacje Collection and Disposal osed that the CQ.11ection rate be increased from er ~month~to $7 per, month. This increase is a n~mber of factors. A major reason is lic oervice Authority's (SPSA) decision to ping fee from $25 to $26~50 a ton. , Additionally, ment of Waste M~n&g.ement in December, 1988 adopted ~egulat~ons which will financial!y ispact every orate which manages a landfill; We are in the ng WithI the State to ensure-compliance with these ch regulatiQns require monitoring of groundwater, ris on a daily basis, as well as ,liners for areas, We also experienced a substantial ease with theSU. S, Department of the Navy for 135 acre ~raney Island Landfill which is used t~ ulk ~efuse.