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I'm sure most of you know there is a 10%
excise tax on fishing tackle. But do you
know where the money goes? Initially it
goes into an account called the Sport
Fish Restoration Account. The amount
of money paid into the account for the 2005
year for all fishing tackle amounts to
$100,699,000. Look like a lot of money?
That is only part of it.
The money for the year 2005 was expected
to be higher by $110 million, the new money
to come from gas taxes from a new federal
Highway Bill allocating more gas tax money
to sportfishing, but it didn't happen in time.
You do need to note the main source for funding is from gas taxes.
67% of this year's total is from gas taxes - 22.6 %
from all fishing tackle.
Here is how/where that money is spent:
Even though the 'extra' gas money didn't
show up this year, there was money carried
over which allowed the states and territories
to share $294,691,282.
Shares are determined by a formula based on
fishing license sales and land-to-water ratios.
A state with strong license sales and many miles
of shoreline gets more than other states.
Alaska, California and Texas each received the
largest apportionment possible this year, $14.7
million.
Good news for those of us who fish, the money
spent in previous years by the Recreational
Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) to promote
sportfishing and boating will be focused more
on the fishing rather than boating sector.
The boating industry has formed and funded its
own organization, Grow Boating, (www.growboating.com),
which Castwell wrote about back in January of 2005,
Grow Fly Fishing.
Part of the 'new' money to the RBFF can already
be seen on the new website,
"Take Me Fishing".
We are delighted the RBFF choose to use
information from FAOL as the basis for their
Fly Fishing sections. You can see them
HERE,
(the site reads best in Microsoft, not in Netscape).
The monies paid to your state are controlled
by your state's Fish and Game Department/Commission,
whatever name it goes by in your state. You
can have input into how and where the money
is spent. Some is earmarked for purchase of
access for the public, some for restoration
projects, some for public education and other
uses. It is a great opportunity to help your
local regions fisheries and watersheds - as
well as to preserve what you have.
The title of this article is "Follow YOUR Money"
- this really IS your money. Get involved. ~ DLB
Credits: Some of the information and charts used
in this column are excerpts from Fishing Tackle
Retailer, July 2005.
If you would like to comment on this or any other article please feel free to
post your views on the FAOL Bulletin Board!
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