Department of Transportation - Washington State Ferries
| Average Annual FTEs | Near General Fund State | Other Funds | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in Thousands) | ||||
| Current Budget | 1,857.7 | 0 | 739,898 | 739,898 |
| 2023-25 Maintenance Level | 1,858.2 | 0 | 754,354 | 754,354 |
| Difference from 2023-25 Original | 0.50 | 0 | 14,456 | 14,456 |
| % Change from 2023-25 Original | 0.03% | 0.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% |
2024 Policy Other Changes |
||||
| ADA Staff at Newer Terminals | 2.9 | 0 | 658 | 658 |
| Able Bodied Sailors to Mate Program | 0.0 | 0 | 4,258 | 4,258 |
| Additional Dispatch Staff | 4.0 | 0 | 935 | 935 |
| Additional HR Support for DEI | 2.0 | 0 | 538 | 538 |
| Additional Orcas Island Sailing | 0.0 | 0 | 80 | 80 |
| Additional Vessel Crew | 80.0 | 0 | 16,245 | 16,245 |
| Colman Dock Security | 0.0 | 0 | 449 | 449 |
| Emergency Manager | 0.50 | 0 | 132 | 132 |
| Increase MITAGS Cohort | 0.0 | 0 | 454 | 454 |
| Kitsap Transit Service | 0.0 | 0 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Ongoing Labor Costs | 0.0 | 0 | 4,856 | 4,856 |
| Operations Deputy Director | 1.0 | 0 | 454 | 454 |
| Out-of-state Mate Recruitment | 0.0 | 0 | 933 | 933 |
| Passenger-only Ferry Service | 0.0 | 0 | 2,250 | 2,250 |
| San Juan Island Crew Shuttle | 0.0 | 0 | 330 | 330 |
| Wiper to Oiler Program | 0.0 | 0 | 988 | 988 |
| 2024 Policy Other Changes Total | 90.4 | 0 | 34,560 | 34,560 |
2024 Policy Comp Changes |
||||
| Pension Rate Month of Death Bill | 0.0 | 0 | 69 | 69 |
| State Employee Benefits | 0.0 | 0 | 131 | 131 |
| 2024 Policy Comp Changes Total | 0.0 | 0 | 200 | 200 |
| Total Policy Changes | 90.4 | 0 | 34,760 | 34,760 |
| 2024 Policy Level | 1,948.6 | 0 | 789,114 | 789,114 |
| Difference from 2023-25 Original | 90.9 | 0 | 49,216 | 49,216 |
| % Change from 2023-25 Original | 4.9% | 0.0% | 6.7% | 6.7% |
Policy Changes
ADA Staff at Newer Terminals
Funds are provided for additional staffing to assist customers with disabilities at the Mukilteo Terminal and Colman Dock. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)
Able Bodied Sailors to Mate Program
One-time funding is provided for workforce development efforts to address the shortage of vessel deck officers by qualifying able bodied sailors to become mates. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)
Additional Dispatch Staff
Funding is provided for additional dispatch and bid administration staff at Washington State Ferries. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)
Additional HR Support for DEI
Funds are provided for additional human resources (HR) staff. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)
Additional Orcas Island Sailing
Funds are provided for an additional summer sailing to Orcas Island. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)
Additional Vessel Crew
These funds will add crew members above the U.S. Coast Guard's (USCG) mandated minimum crewing levels. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)
Colman Dock Security
Ongoing funding is provided for security at Colman Dock in downtown Seattle. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)
Emergency Manager
Funding is provided for emergency planning and management activities in the Washington State Ferries (WSF) system to include one dedicated emergency management program specialist. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)
Increase MITAGS Cohort
This item will increase the cohort size from 10 to 12 slots at the Marine Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) and also add another cohort of 12. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)
Kitsap Transit Service
Passenger-only service from Bremerton to Seattle will be provided by Kitsap Transit. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)
Ongoing Labor Costs
Funding is provided for labor costs to include overtime and special pay categories for engine room and terminal staff. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)
Operations Deputy Director
This funding will support a deputy director for operations at Washington State Ferries. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)
Out-of-state Mate Recruitment
The department will recruit and train qualified mariners from outside of the Washington State Ferries system to become a mate in Washington state. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)
Passenger-only Ferry Service
Funds are provided to evaluate options for providing passenger-only ferry service to support existing ferry service routes. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)
Pension Rate Month of Death Bill
Funding is provided for contribution rate impacts associated with proposed legislation that ensures the continuation of benefit payments through the end of the month in which a retiree or beneficiary dies. (Multimodal Transportation Account - State, Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State, Motor Vehicle Account - State, other funds)
San Juan Island Crew Shuttle
Funding is provided for a crew shuttle to ensure ferry staff are at the appropriate terminal to ensure safe and timely departures. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)
State Employee Benefits
Funding is provided to increase the retiree health insurance subsidy, adjusting the cap from $183 to $193 per month and raising the base subsidy percentage from 50 percent to 60 percent. The insurance funding rates are set at $1,145 per month for fiscal year 2024 and $1,158 per month for fiscal year 2025. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State, Motor Vehicle Account - State, Multimodal Transportation Account - State, other funds)
Wiper to Oiler Program
Funding is provided to train Wiper personnel for promotion into the Oiler position. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)