New Shoreham Council discusses ferry fees and tourism revenue strategies

New Shoreham's Town Council is taking significant steps to address the financial impacts of tourism and housing in the community, as discussed in a recent meeting with local legislators. A key focus was the potential increase of the passenger landing fee from 50 cents to $5, aimed at generating additional revenue to support town services impacted by the influx of visitors.

Council members emphasized the need for a comprehensive proposal that outlines the costs associated with tourism, which could help justify the fee increase to the state legislature. The council is preparing to present data that reflects the financial burden on the town due to the high volume of tourists, which could bolster their case for the fee adjustment.

Additionally, the council is exploring ways to improve revenue collection from private vessels arriving at local marinas. Currently, the town has an agreement with one marina to collect fees, but efforts are underway to expand this to other marinas to enhance compliance and revenue generation. The current collection from private vessels is minimal, amounting to less than $5,000, highlighting the need for better enforcement and reporting mechanisms.

In another significant discussion, the council expressed its position on the hotel tax, indicating a desire to ensure that any funds generated from short-term rentals are returned to the municipality. This reflects a proactive approach to managing the economic impacts of tourism while advocating for local financial interests.

The council also supports enabling legislation for a conveyance tax on property sales above $900,000, which aims to address housing affordability issues in the community. This initiative comes as New Shoreham grapples with maintaining its affordable housing ratio, which recently dipped below the 10% threshold due to a single property sale.

As the council prepares to present these proposals to the state legislature, they are focused on ensuring that New Shoreham can effectively manage the challenges posed by tourism and housing, ultimately aiming to secure necessary funding and support for the community's future.