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A bill that would provide $400,000 to Lake Hopatcong has stalled
The state Senate Environmental and Energy Committee in February approved bill S-495 that would give the cash-strapped Lake Hopatcong Commission funds to pay for preservation and the cleanup of the lake. The money, which would come from state pleasure boat registration fees, would go into a newly created "Lake Hopatcong Fund."
But the bill hasn't even seen the agenda of the state Senate Budget and Appropriation committee.
"I know it came out of committee on the Senate end," Lake Hopatcong Commissioner Russ Felter said, "and I don't think it's gone anywhere on the assembly end."
"There's been no action on it as far as we can tell," Lake Hopatcong Commission Administrator Donna MaCalle said.
Sens. Anthony Bucco (R-25) and Steven Oroho (R-24) sponsored the legislation.
"The condition of Lake Hopatcong has deteriorated without a dedicated stream of revenue to fund its upkeep and management," Bucco said in a statement in Feburary. "The lake is important to the environmental and economic interests of New jersey, and we need to ensure that preservation efforts receive their share of state funding."
Roll Back Our Tax
6:34 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Now those of us who live on the lake get banged two ways....property taxes and boat registration fees. Can't wait to see how much this will cost.
Tammy
7:04 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
I have a couple concerns with this. What portion of the money collected is going to go towards "administrative costs" and how long before the "powers that be" decide that this money has to be divided among ALL lakes (in this case size won't matter) in NJ and we are told again there isn't enough money for Lake Hopatcong? How about an increase to get into the State Park, especially for buses? Call me cynical but I can't see a healthy part of the "user fees" collected actually going towards the upkeep of the lake.
Roll Back Our Tax
7:19 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Tammy......"user fees" is a great idea but if the state is cracking down on municipalities implementing them to circumvent the property taxes would they be justified in implementing them to offset the Hopatcong lake maintenance?
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/05/nj_senate_approves_bill_to_bar.html
"User fees are just a cleverly conceived way to hide from folks that their taxes are going up yet again," Sweeney said in a statement. "The property tax cap was put in place to prevent these kinds of things from happening. It is not there so that local officials can find new and creative ways to get around it."
I'd like to see how much money is actually going towards maintenance of the lake and how much goes towards administrative costs. Personally, anything that starts off as a good idea with government ends up in the dump and costing much more than when it started out with LESS benefit to the local community.
Here's another idea. How about beach tags?
Interesting
7:16 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
If you have a boat, you already pay a registration fee. I believe that this bill will just reallocate that money from essentially going all to the shore to some portion of it going to our lake.
Roll Back Our Tax
7:27 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Interesting....I think they're looking for a registration fee on top of the one we already pay or possibly increases in the one we do pay. I pay $28 for a 21' boat and $12 for a wave runner per year in registration fees. On the other hand I pay $65/yr in registration fees for a motorcycle. It used to be $32.50/yr before Corzine decided to bang the bikers before he left office. If we could be guaranteed the $ would go to Lake Hopatcong, I would be all for an increase in the registration fees. But it doesn't always happen just like property tax money going towards maintaining our roads.
Interesting
8:17 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
I think what you are referencing are user fees... Something different... I don't believe this bill relates to that. However, I will contact the state rep to confirm.
John07849
9:15 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
This $400K has nothing to do with user fees. That program was discussed by the LHC for about 2 years but never got anywhere. This is about allocating a portion of NJ boat registration fees back to LH. I believe the state and/or the LHC did basically count the # of boats that are on the lake (marinas & lakefront homeowners) and came up with an estimate and that's where they came up with the $400K #. The state owns the lake and they collect a lot of $$ from registration fees plus State Park admissions and from what I understand not $1.00 goes back to the lake. Good 'ol NJ! I say let's TAKE THE LAKE BACK and let the newly formed Lake Hopatcong Foundation run it. It will be safer, cleaner and much more enjoyable for all in the community.
Interesting
10:10 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
John07849 - I agree and also called and confirmed what we both have said is in fact the situation. Unfortunately, the bill appears to be going nowhere quickly.
Roll Back Our Tax
10:16 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Like I said previously..."When the attraction of the lake is gone so goes the borough of Hopatcong". With higher property taxes and lakefront owners paying a premium to live on lake do we get our money's worth with bad schools, roads, cuts in services, etc? NOPE!