SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SSB 6306

                      AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 12, 1992

Brief Description:  Funding the Puget Island ferry.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senator Snyder)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6306 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

      Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; Nelson, Vice Chairman; Barr, Conner, Erwin, Hansen, McMullen, Oke, Sellar, Skratek, Snyder, Thorsness, and Vognild.

Staff:  Eugene Schlatter (786‑7316)

Hearing Dates: February 4, 1992

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Transportation 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 department 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:

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

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

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

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Stan Moon, DOT; Mark Doumit, Jack Tobin, Wahkiakum County