HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 6306

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                       Transportation

Title:  An act relating to the Puget Island ferry.

Brief Description:  Funding the Puget Island ferry.

Sponsor(s):  By Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senator Snyder).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, February 26, 1992, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 18 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; R. Meyers, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cantwell; Cooper; Day; G. Fisher; Heavey; Horn; Jones; Kremen; Prentice; Prince; Schmidt; Wilson; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Gene Schlatter (786-7316).

Background:  The Department of Transportation (DOT) is authorized to pay Wahkiakum County up to a maximum of $1,000 per month for the operation and maintenance of the Puget Island ferry.  In addition, at the end of each fiscal year, the DOT is authorized to reimburse Wahkiakum County for 80 percent of the total deficit incurred during the previous fiscal year less the $1,000 monthly receipts.

At the 80 percent reimbursement rate, the 1991 deficit has ranged from a low of $8,000 to a high of $34,000 per month.  The county must carry the deficit until the end of the year because of the $1,000 per month reimbursement limit.

Summary of Bill:  The reimbursement limit of $1,000 per month is eliminated, thereby allowing the county to receive 80 percent of the operating deficit each month.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The bill changes the method of reimbursement to the county from basically an annual payment to monthly payments.  It would also eliminate the financial burden for a very small county to pay for expenses for which they are entitled partial reimbursement.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Stan Moon, Department of Transportation.