Boat-Launching Fees Increasing in 2023

The Sturgeon Bay Common Council agreed to charge more to launch boats at city facilities next year.

The city’s Finance/Purchasing and Building Committee and the Joint Parks and Recreation Committee/Board both recommended raising those fees for the first time since 2011.

Municipal services director Mike Barker said he favored increasing the fees in 2023 because of the rising costs of hiring an attendant, conducting repairs and needing to replace docks.

Based on the launch-fee totals this year through Oct. 1, Barker said the fee increases will raise an estimated $6,510 in additional annual revenue.

The fee hikes will:

• Increase the city’s daily launch fee by $1 to $8.

• Increase the seasonal launch pass for city residents by $6 to $50, and nonresidents will need to pay an additional $7 for a seasonal pass, going up to $80.

• Increase the seasonal commercial launch fee from $50 to $100.

The definition of a “commercial” business is also changing to include boat sales/repair facilities, fishing guides and rental businesses that use the city’s launch facilities.

The daily fee increase is based on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources guidelines establishing the maximum allowable launch base fee to be “the charge of a state resident vehicle for entrance to the state parks,” which is now $8, without having to get state approval to increase the base fee for more than that.