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Boat owners, marinas and tourism businesses tell council proposed boat tax would drive boats and business away
Summary
Dozens of speakers at the April 16 public hearing opposed a proposed pleasure-boat tax tied to dredging and channel maintenance, warning that a $1.50-per-$100 levy would push owners and commercial boats to neighboring cities and reduce local tourism and marine business.
At the April 16, 2025 special session public hearing, multiple residents, marina operators and tourism business owners strongly opposed a proposed tax on pleasure boats and watercraft, saying it would drive boats and associated economic activity out of Virginia Beach.
Ryan Davidson, a lifelong Virginia Beach resident who said he keeps a 22-foot Boston Whaler on a private lift, told council “a $1.50 per 100 boat tax means a $225 bill” on his $15,000 assessment and asked the council to drop the proposal. He said many waterfront properties receive no city dredging support and that private dredging costs can be thousands of dollars.
Russ Costina…
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