NEWSIES – Lizzie Slogotski, from Victoria, British Columbia, right, hands out crayons to children at Sitka Public Library, Thursday. Slogotski and other cast members of the upcoming Sitka Fine Arts Camp production of “Newsies” wore their costumes as they handed out prizes and activities and sang songs from the Tony Award-winning musical. The show is set to be staged August 2-4 at the Performing Arts Center. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
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Daily Sitka Sentinel
Legislators Hike Funds To Keep Ferries Going
JUNEAU (AP) — The Alaska Legislature has approved a $66.7 million budget appropriation that lawmakers said should keep the Alaska Marine Highway System running for the year.
Legislators increased the operating budget for the state’s ferry service by around $20 million over the previous year, CoastAlaska reported Monday.
An estimated 42% of the overall $122 million ferry budget is expected to come from ticket sales for passengers, vehicles and freight.
The appropriation should guarantee at least one ferry is available as relief if another vessel breaks down, Republican state Sen. Bert Stedman said.
“So we don’t face again what we faced this winter, which was no service at all,” Stedman said. He called that situation “totally unacceptable.”
The budget adds another $19 million for repairing the ferry Aurora, which is laid up because of cost-cutting, and adding crew quarters to either the Hubbard or Tazlina to extend their ranges.
The two ships are the system’s newest, known as Alaska Class Ferries. But as currently configured, they serve as relatively short-range day trip boats.
“The intent of the legislature is to keep the Aurora,” Stedman said. “We support crew quarters to make the Alaska Class Ferries more versatile.”
The operating budget includes about $16 million more than Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposed, which should provide about 25% more service, according to Department of Transportation figures.
Dunleavy proposed a $49.9 million ferry service appropriation in the budget he submitted in December, which was an increase over the $46 million approved by the Legislature in May 2019.
Cuts to the system’s budget have been compounded by maintenance and other issues, prompting the Alaska Department of Transportation to contract with private companies to transport people on smaller catamarans with no vehicles or heavy freight were allowed.
Independent Rep. Dan Ortiz said the Legislature wants to bring stability back to the state’s ferry network.
“I think we’ve put the marine highway system in the place where they should be able to provide adequate service throughout the system,” Ortiz said. “As long as the governor doesn’t veto those monies.”
A veto remains among Dunleavy’s options. A $250,000 study commissioned by the governor found that privatizing the ferries is not feasible. He appointed a working group to recommend ways to cut costs.
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20 YEARS AGO
July 2004
The high sockeye returns at Redoubt Bay and Lake have prompted the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to raise daily bag limits to six for sport fishers and to 25 for subsistence fishers.
50 YEARS AGO
July 1974
The Assembly decided Tuesday against municipal participation in the U.S. Bicentennial Year commemorative project because of various objections to the project proposed: construction of a Russian tea house pavilion on the Centennial Building parking lot. The estimated local share of the project would be $37,000.
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