Smaller boats to get same tax breaks as yachts in proposed county ordinance

If you own a houseboat or a yacht and claim it as your primary or secondary residence, you've been getting a tax break not enjoyed by owners of smaller boats.

Now, in an effort to achieve fairness, the Beaufort County Council is trying to change that.

Through an oversight, the council's initial attempt at an ordinance to reduce the assessed value on boats would have done nothing to level the playing field for small-boat owners.

The ordinance would have lowered the assessed value of all boats, benefiting owners of big and small boats alike. The measure was one council vote away from becoming law.

"If that's how it could be interpreted, then we have a big problem, because our intent clearly is to level the playing field, not to give a break to the guy with the $2 million mega-yacht," said Councilman Paul Sommerville.

"That clearly would not be our intent," agreed Councilman Stu Rodman. "If that's the case, we will modify the ordinance."

And that's exactly what's expected to happen.

A new version of the ordinance would lower the assessed value of boats, but it would exclude boats already being taxed at a reduced rate. The ordinance calls for a reduction of about 43 percent in a boat's assessed value, which is roughly equivalent to the relief that houseboats currently get.

The new version of the ordinance is up for discussion at today's council meeting.