Boaters Beware!

Kanavas April Tax Awareness Campaign; 30 Days of Democratic Tax Increases
Day 23: Boat Registration Tax



(Madison)…State Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), as part of his April tax Awareness Campaign to raise the profile of Governor Doyle’s and the Democrat’s tax and spend proposals, today focused on the increase in the boat registration tax in the 2009-2011 biennial budget.

“Boating is a very important part of Wisconsin’s tourism and recreation industry. The Democrats know this, and they know that hundreds of family owned businesses rely on summer boating activities to survive, but they can’t pass on an opportunity to take more than $2 million out of the private economy,” said Kanavas.

The Governor’s 2009-2011 budget proposal raises the cost of a three-year motorized boat registration anywhere from $6.00 to $23.00 depending on the size of the boat. According to the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the tax increase will cost taxpayers an additional $2,150,000 over the next two years. In total, the Governor’s budget will raise taxes on Wisconsinites by $1.7 billion over the biennium.

“The Democrats fought to raise boat registration fee during the last budget and they’re back at it again this year. The tourism industry generates billions of dollars of economic activity and they see it as a bottomless piggy bank. I think it’s reasonable to expect they will continue to target tourism related activities for years to come,” said Kanavas.

This release is part of Senator Kanavas’ April Tax Awareness Campaign designed to educate Wisconsinites about the $1.7 billion in new taxes and fees contained in the Democrat’s 2009-2011 budget.

To learn more about Senator Kanavas’ April tax awareness campaign, Senator Kanavas’ initiatives and the 33rd Senate District please visit his website at: http://www.senatorkanavas.com.


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