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A controversial and expensive “coastal waters permit” was removed from the final version of the budget passed by North Carolina legislators, a relief to the many boaters and marine manufacturers who opposed the fee.  Legislators planned to use revenue from the fee, that ranged from $75 for a 24-foot boat to $1,300 for the largest of vessels, to increase maintenance dredging funds that have proved to be inadequate to address the needs of the many inlets and other key areas that have silted in as federal funds for dredging have dried up.

Boaters and NMMA manufacturers opposed the fee not only because it was exorbitant, but also because registration fees were increased in 2013 to raise funds to pay for dredging projects. The final state budget instead sets aside other state funds to pay for dredging maintenance operations.