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Page 1: PI Tax - Harbor Dpt  Budget 6 13 07 WEB3 0

8/14/2019 PI Tax - Harbor Dpt Budget 6 13 07 WEB3 0

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/pi-tax-harbor-dpt-budget-6-13-07-web3-0 1/2

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,

[email protected] 

Dana Point Boaters Association Copyright 2007 June 13, 2007