County Executive PJ Wendel.

MAYVILLE – If boaters who use Chautauqua Lake are going to be required to pay a fee, it won’t happen this summer and is extremely unlikely to happen in 2024.

County Executive PJ Wendel held a public forum at the legislative chambers in the Gerace Office Building Wednesday, inviting people to share their thoughts about the possibility of a boat fee.

No numbers were discussed during the meeting. Wendel said previously he could see a boat fee of $50 to $100.

Twice this year, a sustainable funding source has been rejected. In January, the Chautauqua Lake Protection and Rehabilitation Agency voted that they did not support the idea of a special taxing district and the county legislature rejected trying to hike the occupancy tax, with the additional money being used to support lakes and waterways.

According to Wendel, the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance has nearly $3 million in requests for lake management from various groups, yet they only have $234,000 from the occupancy tax. Besides supporting tourism, the occupancy tax is also used for Cassadaga, Findley and Bear lakes, and those lakes need those funds as well.Barton & Loguidice was the consultant firm that was initially hired to explore a lake district tax. Wendel said they would put together a study on different boat fee options. Those options could include things like what size boats would and would not have to pay a fee, how to enforce the boat fees, and what does the county have to do in order to get state approval.

The consulting firm would work with various fishing and boating clubs to get their input. Wendel said they’re not looking at smaller vessels like kayaks or canoes.