Officials in Manatee County, Fla., this week approved a 50-percent increase in annual boater registration fees, which they say will be used for improvement projects on county boat ramps.
The increase will be based on the length of the boat, with the largest vessels seeing the largest hike in the fee, The Herald reported.
Most manatee boaters own vessels between 16 and 26 feet. Their fees will increase from $18.50 to $27.75 each year. Owners of the largest boats would see their fees jump from $122.50 to $183.75.
The fee increase could bring in as much as $165,000 a year, county officials said.
The rate hike goes into effect Sept. 1.
