T&T: Liveaboards

[John Baker]

Larry,
   
       Using this rationale....I have no kids and don't plan on having any but I am a homeowner(I was a liveaboard for 5 years) and pay as much tax as you do.  Since I don't have any kids, should I not be relieved of my tax burden?
   
  Tralwer on,
  John

LRZeitlin@aol.com wrote:
  In a message dated 9/24/06 12:00:49 AM, Joel writes:


> Actually I was heartened to read of the bill being signned into law until I 
> read and reread it. As a full time liveaboard it does absolutley nothing for 
> me. In fact it singles livaboards out and treats them different that full 
> time cruisers. Again, it is the preception that we are a drain on society (read 
> public resources) rather than a vital part of it.
> 
As a boater, I have mixed feelings on this. I would like to be able to cruise 
where I please and anchor for extended periods, that would, under the new 
law, make me a liveaboard. However as a former member of municipal government and 
ten years service as a school board trustee I also understand the feelings of 
the residents of the local community. True, you pay taxes, but most are 
collected by the Federal and State governments. However it is the local communities 
that pay for most of the services you use. They provide the roads to the 
marina, collect the trash, provide fire and police protection, and, most costly, 
run the school system. 

It is not true that liveaboards are elderly couples in their dotage. Many are 
couples with children looking for a less expensive way of life. In our town, 
liveaboards enrolled an average of two children per boat in the local school 
system. Our per pupil costs in the Northeast are relatively high, given recent 
Federal and State mandates on education. Each school child costs the community 
nearly $20,000 per year. We have a school budget in excess of 40 million 
dollars per year and a K to 12 enrollment of about 2500 students. In this 
semi-rural environment each child is bussed to school. Special Education is provided 
for all handicapped. We are mandated to offer classes in several languages. 
And, according to State law, all those services must be provided to every child 
living in the district until the age of 19. I'm sure the Police, Fire and 
Sanitation deparments have the same sad litany of red ink accounting figures. 
Despite the PR flak coming out of Washington, the Federal Government provides less 
than 10% of the funds for education. State governments, another 20%. Local 
taxpayers foot the rest of the bill.

School taxes are based on the value of property. I have no brief against 
liveaboards - but as a householder I personally pay over $5000 in school taxes 
every year on a home which is valued at about $200,000. And mine is a relatively 
low tax district. The taxes paid by marina owners reflect only the value of 
their own property, not the value of the boats permanently moored there. My 
animus toward liveaboards would be greatly lessened if boat owning liveaboards in 
my community would be taxed at the homeowner's rate on the value of their 
boats. 

If you dance to the tune, you must pay the piper.

Larry Z
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