Published: Thursday, June 24, 2010
Ferry rate hike on hold
State commissioners are waiting for two reports about reforms enacted in response to controversies.
OLYMPIA — State transportation commissioners put off a decision Wednesday on whether to boost the price of a ferry ride later this year.
Commissioners opted not to act after grilling leaders of the state ferry system on what they’ve done to curb costs and end controversial practices enabling workers to earn tens of thousands of dollars in overtime and mileage reimbursements
Most expressed confidence in reforms presented by Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond and ferries chief David Moseley but insisted they won’t proceed until they review two reports on operations of Washington State Ferries from outside experts.
The reports, one from a panel of maritime experts and another from State Auditor Brian Sonntag, may arrive by September.
“I think we’re on our way,” said commission chairwoman Carol Moser, adding she still wanted “a full set of facts” before asking the public to pony up more money for ferry travel.
Some of those facts surround the state agency’s payroll and its response to the use and abuse of perqs that cost the ferry system millions of dollars a year.
Commissioners repeatedly expressed concern about the paying of relief workers for the time and mileage getting to and from a terminal where they are sent to fill in shifts.
That benefit is part of labor contracts and cannot be modified by Hammond or Moseley. It did cost the state $6.4 million in 2009 and netted one deckhand nearly $73,000, which was higher than his annual salary.
Hammond said the fate of such benefits will be determined in talks now under way on new contracts with nine of the 11 unions representing ferry workers.
Meanwhile, policies used by some nonunion employees to rack up a lot of overtime hours have been eliminated, Moseley said.
Commissioner Dan O’Neal didn’t sound fully convinced by the presentation.
“How do we justify a fare adjustment if the abuses aren’t controlled?” he said. “You’re saying you’re taking control. How do we know there aren’t going to be other surprises?”
Hammond couldn’t make any promises, noting only that it “is going to be a journey” for workers and management alike on this issue.
Commissioners did hike fares 2.5 percent in October 2009 and were expected to enact the same-sized increase this year. Legislators counted on it generating $1.9 million for the current ferry budget and $13.2 million for the next two-year budget.
Hammond hopes they’ll do what it takes to raise fares by Nov. 1.
“My goal (today) was to help them understand the reforms we’ve been making the last two years,” she said afterward. “How could they go forward and raise fares if they thought we were wasting the taxpayers’ money?”
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com
Commissioners opted not to act after grilling leaders of the state ferry system on what they’ve done to curb costs and end controversial practices enabling workers to earn tens of thousands of dollars in overtime and mileage reimbursements
Most expressed confidence in reforms presented by Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond and ferries chief David Moseley but insisted they won’t proceed until they review two reports on operations of Washington State Ferries from outside experts.
The reports, one from a panel of maritime experts and another from State Auditor Brian Sonntag, may arrive by September.
“I think we’re on our way,” said commission chairwoman Carol Moser, adding she still wanted “a full set of facts” before asking the public to pony up more money for ferry travel.
Some of those facts surround the state agency’s payroll and its response to the use and abuse of perqs that cost the ferry system millions of dollars a year.
Commissioners repeatedly expressed concern about the paying of relief workers for the time and mileage getting to and from a terminal where they are sent to fill in shifts.
That benefit is part of labor contracts and cannot be modified by Hammond or Moseley. It did cost the state $6.4 million in 2009 and netted one deckhand nearly $73,000, which was higher than his annual salary.
Hammond said the fate of such benefits will be determined in talks now under way on new contracts with nine of the 11 unions representing ferry workers.
Meanwhile, policies used by some nonunion employees to rack up a lot of overtime hours have been eliminated, Moseley said.
Commissioner Dan O’Neal didn’t sound fully convinced by the presentation.
“How do we justify a fare adjustment if the abuses aren’t controlled?” he said. “You’re saying you’re taking control. How do we know there aren’t going to be other surprises?”
Hammond couldn’t make any promises, noting only that it “is going to be a journey” for workers and management alike on this issue.
Commissioners did hike fares 2.5 percent in October 2009 and were expected to enact the same-sized increase this year. Legislators counted on it generating $1.9 million for the current ferry budget and $13.2 million for the next two-year budget.
Hammond hopes they’ll do what it takes to raise fares by Nov. 1.
“My goal (today) was to help them understand the reforms we’ve been making the last two years,” she said afterward. “How could they go forward and raise fares if they thought we were wasting the taxpayers’ money?”
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com
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