Billion dollar boats. What are we paying Ferryman Fergu$on?
On July 1, 2025 KOMO news staff posted, “$5 a gallon? Gas prices in Washington surge amid new fuel taxes.” KOMO wrote,
“Starting Tuesday, July 1, a new gas tax adds another 6 cents per gallon of unleaded to fund road projects and bridge maintenance. Diesel is up 3 cents a gallon. That hikes the state's per-gallon tax rate from 49.4 cents to 55.4 cents.
AAA shows Washington drivers already pay around $4.42 per gallon, well above the national average of $3.18. Washington drivers always pay significantly more due to the state's high gas taxes and costs passed on from climate initiatives.”
WHILE we’re paying more at the gas pump … what are we paying for?
Governor Ferguson is using gas tax funding to continue an In$lee era billion dollar plan to “electrify” ferries in the Puget Sound, subsidizing whale watching, and sending Washington work to Florida.
Jerry Cornfield at Washington State Standard reports yesterday, July 8, 2025, “High costs may force WA ferry electrification program off course: With the state’s first converted hybrid-electric ferry “days away” from entering service, lawmakers are questioning whether it’s realistic to transition the fleet to 22 plug-in vessels by 2040.” Cornfield writes from his coverage of the WA House Transportation Committee meeting on Washington State Ferries - Vessel Procurement and Other Capital Updates,
“Executive orders issued by former Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee in 2018 and 2020 are steering Washington State Ferries’ transition to an emission-free fleet. There’s also a separate state law requiring state agencies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2040 and to be at net zero a decade later.”
“In 2020, the ferry agency published its System Electrification Plan. It carried an estimated cost of $4 billion, but that figure is “outdated,” David Sowers, who oversees the electrification program, told House members.”
In government-speak, “outdated” almost never means less money.
Even Western Washington Democrats agree,
“We can’t do everything we want to do. We can’t buy everything we want to buy, so let’s talk about the priorities,” said Rep. Jake Fey, D-Tacoma, chair of the state House Transportation Committee, ahead of a work session Tuesday on where things stand in the ferry agency’s pursuit of electrification.
Rep. Adam Bernbaum, D-Port Angeles, vice chair of the transportation committee, wanted to know what amount of greenhouse gas emission reduction would be achieved. State ferry officials didn’t have an immediate answer.
“From a cost perspective, is this an efficient or good use of the state’s money? To me, it seems pretty expensive,” he said. “I would hope that there would be quite significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions if we’re going to continue down this path.”
Staring down a multi-billion dollar budget increase, WA Ferries promote “Free Rides”.
On May 22, 2025, Genevieve Belmaker of Tacoma News Tribune posted, “Freebies, discounts and new routes on Washington ferries this summer.” Belmaker wrote,
“WSF allows riders who are 18 and younger to ride for free.” and “Many customers can get discounts on WSF, including: Reduced fares for the disabled Senior discounts Multi-use passes that lead to savings after a threshold of uses is met”
Insult to Injury - Ferguson Funds Florida.
Costing Washington workers their jobs and the corresponding local revenue that would go with it. FRANK SUMRALL of MyNorthwest published on July 2, 2025, “Florida company wins WA ferry contract over local bidder, first out-of-state ferry in 50 years.” Reporting includes,
“Ferguson chose Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Florida over the Whidbey Island-based Nichols Brothers Boat Builders. According to Ferguson, Eastern Shipbuilding Group’s bid was “significantly lower” in cost compared to Nichols Brothers’ bid. Despite the higher cost evaluation, many wanted the locally-based company to secure the deal to create local jobs and boost the region’s shipbuilding industry.
Rep. Andrew Barkis, R-Olympia, called the governor’s decision “disappointing, both in process and in principle.”
“It’s deeply concerning that Nichols Brothers, a long-established Washington company with decades of experience, could not offer a competitive bid despite having home-field advantage,” Barkis said. “Their proposal came in more than $350 million higher than the winning bid from out of state. That difference is staggering and should serve as a wake-up call to lawmakers who continue passing laws that damage our state’s competitiveness. Washington shouldn’t be a place where our workers get priced out of building our ferries.”
Editor's Note:
Gas prices impact every aspect of our lives and are a common subject in the 509. Transportation to work for many who are living paycheck to paycheck is taking another hit. Any company relying on delivery of goods and services will pass costs to the consumer. We all lose.
What should we be asking about the exorbitant cost of new ferries and the contract being sent out of state?
A few ideas ...
How much is this costing our state's economy over the next 8 years?
Where are those costs to be found?
What is the impact on new jobs, money spent in the local economy, people's ability to make a down payment on a house, new student enrollment in schools, new business development to support the new jobs.
Personally, I believe this decision is short-sighted. We don't need ferries in Eastern Washington, but we do get to help pay.
We do benefit from an efficient transportation system, but we should also benefit from wise choices to make sure our tax dollars are spent in a reasonable way. We will pay more of the price in gas becoming unaffordable by our people who are living on the edge already. Do legislators care? The governor doesn't seem too. Contact him and tell him how his decisions negatively affect you.
Email:
https://governor.wa.gov/contacting-governor/contacting-governors-office/send-gov-ferguson-e-message
Snail Mail
Govenor Bob Ferguson
P.O. Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504
Call: 360-902-4111
Thank you ALL for staying ON THE BALL!
Robin