Registration funds are a necessary part of owning a pontoon
or a deck boat. But it seems one state has come up with a way to allow the
people that pay these funds decide how they are going to be used instead of
letting lawmakers make the decisions. Idaho
allows residents to designate two lakes where they would to see 85 percent of
their money go. They call this innovative program "Pay Where You Play."
When people register their boats, they pick a primary and a
second county to receive the money. Those funds are then given to that county's
Waterways Advisory Committee, which is typically made up of boaters in the
region. The committees in turn designate what projects to fund.
According to Idaho Boating Program Manager Dave Dahms, the
idea is that boaters direct those dollars to their favorite, most frequented
boating locations, which in turn fund boat improvement projects and law
enforcement activities.
"I think this program has been extremely effective because
it is in the hands of the boaters to tell the state where they want their money
spent," Dahms said.
In Idaho,
boating-related facilities and services are the responsibility of the county,
including county sheriffs who have the job of patrolling the lakes. Therefore, it
makes the most sense for counties where those facilities are most used receive
the most funding, Dahms said.
Two Idaho
counties, Bonner and Kootenai, are account for 30 percent of boater
registrations. This allows for these counties to receive a large portion of
funding.
Idaho
uses a similar system for its snowmobile registrations as well.
The system has not caused a shortage of funding in less
popular lakes, according to Dahms, who has been with Idaho Parks
and Recreation for nearly seven years.
This is a great way to allow boaters a voice in their home
state. If you enjoy pontooning in a certain area, you can guarantee your
registration money will be spent there. Simple, right?
