Newport officials oppose governor’s proposed cruise-ship fee increase, citing loss of municipal revenue

Newport councilors and state legislators discussed the governor’s proposal to raise the state-level cruise-ship debarkation fee from $20 to $30 and voiced strong opposition to diverting locally collected revenue.

Presenters warned the proposal would take a municipal revenue source dedicated to port operations and waterfront projects and hand part of it to the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA). A senior legislator at the briefing estimated the statewide increase would raise roughly $1 million — an amount council members and local legislators characterized as small compared to the local value the fee provides to Newport’s harbor operations and projects.

Councilors said cruise bookings are made years in advance, so a sudden fee increase would complicate contracts; they also noted Newport intentionally limits large-ship visits in peak summer months and worried higher fees could change scheduling or reduce calls. The city’s harbor interests had intended cruise fees to support waterfront projects such as Pier and harbor-master facilities and were concerned that shifting the revenue would reduce local capacity to fund planned work.

Legislators suggested a local resolution opposing the increase would be helpful and promised to raise the concern with colleagues. No formal state action was taken at the briefing; city leaders requested legislative assistance to protect municipal revenue sources.