pi tax - harbor dpt budget 6 13 07 web3 0
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8/14/2019 PI Tax - Harbor Dpt Budget 6 13 07 WEB3 0
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Press Release – DPBA
The Dana Point Boaters Association, DPBA, is pleased that the County Board of
Supervisors has approved the Dana Point Harbor Department reserve intended to cover
the back Possessory Interest (PI) Tax. The County was pursuing up to four years back PI
Taxes from about 2400 boaters in wet slips, as well as 600 boaters that store their boats inthe harbor on trailers. These “Escapes” were the result of the County’s Harbor
Department taking over the management of the Harbor from the two former Marina
Companies and the Embarcadero.
When George Caravalho of the Dana Point Harbor Department first made the DPBA
aware of the intent to assess a new Possessory Interest Tax, we strongly recommended
that the Harbor Department do the right thing. While our meeting occurred about a week
before the County took any official action, it quickly became obvious that they had
chosen instead to pursue the tax not only going back but also going forward.
The Dana Point Boaters Association has been working with DePasquale, Kelley &Company (http://www.dkctax.com/retail.htm ) and it was determined that there were
many structural problems with the County’s handling of this action. When we
communicated some of these issues to the County Board of Supervisors we received
feedback that indicated that our conclusions were, at least in some part, being validated.
The Association would like to specifically thank Supervisors Pat Bates and John
Moorlach for their help on this matter.
Boaters should not consider this a done deal at this point. The County has not yet
explained the funding process. Specifically, we have not been informed by the County
Assessors Office that the “Escapes” are being canceled. Most boaters are aware that they
must file their appeals by July 14th
, 2007 or forever lose the right to appeal theseparticular assessments. Obviously, it would be very bad if boaters failed to act now and
then have bills show up when it is too late to do something about it. Accordingly, until
each boater receives an official statement or letter stating that the escapes have been
canceled, the DPBA is encouraging its members to preserve their rights by filing their
appeals to each assessment.
While the County states that they will be pursuing the tax going forward, the Association
is receiving advice indicating that the customers currently covered by either a Wharfage
Contract or the new “License” are subject to the tax. The issues of the escapes assessing
back taxes and of future possessory interest taxes will be covered tomorrow night at the
DPBA Members Only meeting. Details of the meeting and membership can be found onthe Associations web site: www.danapointboaters.org.
The Board of Directors of the Association is very pleased with the positive impact the
Association is having on behalf of recreational boaters in Dana Point. We believe that
our letters, e-mails, public awareness, interviews with the press, studying the issues in
detail, working with experts and mobilizing our members has led to this positive
Dana Point Boaters Association Copyright 2007 June 13, 2007
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outcome. We are confident that if we continue to pursue other issues with the same open
and professional approach we will have similar results.
About Dana Point Boaters Association
The DPBA is an advocacy group for Dana Point recreational boaters. The organization isopen to all families interested in the many different kinds of recreational boating in the
harbor from kayaks to large motor cruisers. The organization’s goals are to meet or
exceed recreational boaters’ needs through constructively working with merchants,
officials in Dana Pont City Government, various departments within Orange County
Government, the ship yard, Yacht Clubs, other associations, California Coastal
Commission, California Coastal Coalition, South Coast Water Distinct, California State
Legislature, RBOC, SCMA, local clubs and selected experts. The organization is
currently working on issues surrounding the Counties planned “Revitalization”, the
Possessory Interest Tax and the lost fuel tax that is being transferred to Parks Harbors and
beaches. Questions should be directed to Bruce Heyman, 949-289-8400,
Dana Point Boaters Association Copyright 2007 June 13, 2007