You can't even get residents of an Outer Banks county to support higher taxes for beach nourishment (Dare sales tax ...):
Nearly four out of five voters who showed up at the polls Tuesday in Dare County chose to overturn the penny increase in the local sales tax in a historic referendum. ... The fight in Dare County was not just about the sales tax. It was also what it would pay for. County officials planned to use the estimated $12 million it would have raised each year to pump sand onto the coastal beaches to counter erosion and protect oceanfront properties. Some residents argued that would harm the aquatic environment, waste taxpayer money and benefit only a sliver of the county's population.
Maybe a beach nourishment property tax, er, fee, er, "opportunity charge" would be more popular? A $600 annual charge on 20,000 Dare County housing units (this website says there are 26k+ housing units) would raise the $12 million.
But let's say that only one quarter of these are directly affected by coastal hazards. The charge would be $2400/year or $200/month. Of course, if the housing units are rentals they could increase the rental price and recover much of the increase. If the housing units aren't rentals, they owners might be rich and we love to "stick it to the man" at env-econ.
And don't forget the "opportunity" of charging those who stay in hotels (i.e., the occupancy tax). Vacation towns love to do this, and, it is efficient, and, probably, equitable considering, as the French say, the "principe du pollueur- payeur." Boy, that year of high school French with Ms. Chenaie really has payed off (she was also the cheerleading coach and the object of more than a few immature crushes).
