Current boat tax rate stays

May 4, 2022

Boats rest “on the hard” at Deltaville Boatyard Saturday. Those owning boats 30-feet and longer in Middlesex County can breathe easy as the Middlesex County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 last night not to raise the personal property tax rate on boats five-tons and more — but if you own real estate, those taxes are likely going up. (Photo by Larry Chowning)

by Larry Chowning –

The Middlesex County Board of Supervisors (MCBS) approved on a 3-2 vote Thursday, April 28, a tax rate change to balance the fiscal year 2023 (FY 23) $31,149,744 budget. The result of the vote amounts to a six cent tax rate increase on real estate and leaves the personal property tax on five-ton and heavier boats at 62 cents.

There was somewhat of a contentious atmosphere during the meeting between board members as the debate over the boat tax was the primary wedge between members.

MCBS voted in 2018, 3-2 to lower the boat tax on five-ton and heavier boats from 98 cents on the personal property rate to 62 cents. Each year since, it has been a source of contention.

Harmony Village Supervisor Reggie Williams and Jamaica District Supervisor Wayne Jessie were adamant that the 62 cents rate on large boats needed to go back up to 98 cents — the same as the personal property rate on small boats.

The main issue was the “unfairness” according to Williams and Jessie to lower the boat tax rate on a class of people who could afford to pay a higher tax, versus keeping the rate high on taxpayers who owned small boats.