Ferry 'Plan C' includes new tax

Members of Citizens Write Plan C, a group of mostly Kitsap Peninsula ferry riders, workers and representatives from ferry-served communities, say the plan can save the state at least $300 million.

The ferry system’s director says Washington State Ferries would need $3.2 billion to meet its needs over the next 21 years to keep service at the current level. Or, make major cuts, including eliminating the Anacortes-Sidney, BC, route.

The citizens group would cap the amount of operating costs paid by fares at 70 percent. The other 30 percent would be covered by state subsidy or new innovative revenues such as hotel-cruise ship taxes, selective gambling and advertising.

Fare increases would be tied to operating costs. If fares aren’t bringing in 70 percent, they would be raised evenly across the board, not more for cars than for passengers. If they net more than 70 percent, the surplus would stay in the ferry system.

Until a few years ago, the ferry system was supported by a vehicle-excise tax. That tax was voted down by voters statewide, then eliminated by the legislature. Now, the Plan C ferry committee is recommending an excise tax as just one of several pieces to support the ferry system.

Plan C doesn’t recommend what level, but a consultant says that a 0.2 percent excise tax on each vehicle value would raise about $350 million every two years and an additional, uniform license tax of $30 could raise more than $350 million every two years, with lower fees raising less.

Plan C also asks for a 5-cent a gallon gas-tax allocation which could raise more than $400 million every two years. But, attempts to change the allocation in the past have failed.

Ferry system officials haven't seen a complete, written "Plan C" but "what we have seen is thought-provoking and some parts do have merit," spokeswoman Marta Coursey told a reporter. "We are pleased that the Plan C effort has energized the communities to learn more about the difficulties the ferry system is facing and to contribute to finding solutions."