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Department of Transportation - Washington State Ferries

  Average Annual FTEs Near General Fund State Other Funds Total Funds
  (Dollars in Thousands)
Current Budget 1,949.1 0 770,365 770,365
2025-27 Maintenance Level 2,019.9 0 715,510 715,510
Difference from 2025-27 Original 70.8 0 (54,855) (54,855)
% Change from 2025-27 Original 3.6% 0.0% (7.1%) (7.1%)

2025 Policy Other Changes

San Juan Island Winter Ferry Servic 0.0 0 2,600 2,600
Colman Dock Security 0.0 0 1,650 1,650
Terminal Traffic Control 0.0 0 1,100 1,100
Additional Orcas Island Sailing 0.0 0 160 160
Additional Dispatch Staff 0.0 0 796 796
Kitsap Transit Service 0.0 0 10,802 10,802
Additional Vessel Crew 0.0 0 16,500 16,500
Labor/Familiarization Training 0.0 0 13,900 13,900
Enterprise Asset Mgmt-Op Costs 0.0 0 2,600 2,600
2025 Policy Other Changes Total 0.0 0 50,108 50,108

2025 Policy Comp Changes

WSF Inland Boatsmen's Union 0.0 0 12,055 12,055
WSF Licensed Marine Engineers 0.0 0 3,788 3,788
WSF Master Mates/Pilots-Mates 0.0 0 2,663 2,663
WSF Metal Trades 0.0 0 1,612 1,612
WSF Carpenters 0.0 0 376 376
WSF Office/Prof Intrn'l Local 8 0.0 0 819 819
WSF Ferry Agents/Supvrs/Project Adm 0.0 0 696 696
WSF Service Employees Intrn'l 6 0.0 0 84 84
WSF Master Mates/Pilots-Watch Spvrs 0.0 0 211 211
WSF Marine Engineers-Port Engineers 0.0 0 155 155
WSF Marine Engineers - Unlicensed 0.0 0 4,478 4,478
WSF Master Mates/Pilots-Masters 0.0 0 2,130 2,130
WFSE General Government 0.0 0 241 241
Non-Rep General Wage Increase 0.0 0 565 565
Updated PEBB Rate 0.0 0 (603) (603)
PERS & TRS Plan 1 Benefit Increase 0.0 0 252 252
Pension Benefit Amortization 0.0 0 (915) (915)
2025 Policy Comp Changes Total 0.0 0 28,607 28,607
Total Policy Changes 0.0 0 78,715 78,715
2025-27 Policy Level 2,019.9 0 794,225 794,225
Difference from 2023-25 70.8 0 23,860 23,860
% Change from 2025-27 Original 3.6% 0.0% 3.1% 3.1%

Policy Changes

San Juan Island Winter Ferry Servic

Funding is provided to continue the additional service in the interisland route in the San Juan islands and expand the winter service. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

Colman Dock Security

Funding is provided for security services at Colman Dock. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

Terminal Traffic Control

Funds are provided for traffic control services to six ferry terminals. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

Additional Orcas Island Sailing

Funds are provided to maintain summer sailing to Orcas Island. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

Additional Dispatch Staff

Funding is provided to maintain dispatch and customer communications. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

Kitsap Transit Service

Funding is provided to continue the temporary expansion of Kitsap Transit passenger-only ferry service on the Seattle- Bremerton route to supplement WSF’s service. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

Additional Vessel Crew

Funding is provided for deck and engine crew across the system. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

Labor/Familiarization Training

Funding is provided for overtime costs and break-in training known as familiarization for engine room and terminal staff who change assignments to a new vessel or terminal. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

Enterprise Asset Mgmt-Op Costs

Funding is provided to maintain the enterprise asset management system. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

WSF Inland Boatsmen's Union

Funding for interest arbitration is provided. The interest arbitration award includes a general wage increase of 4% effective July 1, 2025, and 4% effective July 1, 2026, and targeted increases for deck and terminal classifications. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

WSF Licensed Marine Engineers

Funding for interest arbitration is provided. The interest arbitration award includes a general wage increase of 4% effective July 1, 2025, and 4% effective July 1, 2026, and increases in the watch turnover rates of 4% effective July 1, 2025, and 4% effective July 1, 2026. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

WSF Master Mates/Pilots-Mates

Funding for bargaining is provided. The agreement includes a general wage increase of 4% effective July 1, 2025, and 4% effective July 1, 2026, and a license reimbursement ($325). (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

WSF Metal Trades

Funding for interest arbitration is provided. The interest arbitration award includes a general wage increase of 6% effective July 1, 2025, and 4% effective July 1, 2026. The award also increases the premium for Teamsters drivers to 10% per hour with a four-hour minimum and increases premium for Machinists driving the boom truck and knuckle boom truck to 10% with a four-hour minimum when driving hazardous loads. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

WSF Carpenters

Funding for interest arbitration is provided. The interest arbitration award includes a general wage increase of 4% effective July 1, 2025, and 4% effective July 1, 2026, and a market increase of 2.5% for the journeyperson. The parties agreed to double time after eight hours of work on Saturday and all-day Sunday and double time after a cumulative of 12 hours in one day. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

WSF Office/Prof Intrn'l Local 8

Funding for bargaining is provided. The agreement includes a general wage increase of 3% effective July 1, 2025, and 3% effective July 1, 2026, established an additional step on the salary schedule, provide maintenance material coordinator 1-range increase, and expand bereavement leave family member definition and qualifying event. (Motor Vehicle Account - State, Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

WSF Ferry Agents/Supvrs/Project Adm

Funding for bargaining is provided. The agreement includes a general wage increase of 4% effective July 1, 2025, and 4% effective July 1, 2026, an increase to the annual uniform stipend ($1,000), and increase drug and alcohol sampling certification stipend ($2,700). (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

WSF Service Employees Intrn'l 6

Funding for bargaining is provided. The agreement includes a general wage increase of 2% effective July 1, 2025, and 5% effective July 1, 2026, and a shift premium increase to $2.50 per hour. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

WSF Master Mates/Pilots-Watch Spvrs

Funding for bargaining is provided. The agreement includes a general wage increase of 4% effective July 1, 2025, and 4% effective July 1, 2026, and an increase in the relief watch center supervisor premium (5%). (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

WSF Marine Engineers-Port Engineers

Funding for interest arbitration is provided. The interest arbitration award includes a general wage increase of 4% effective July 1, 2025, and a 4% effective July 1, 2026. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

WSF Marine Engineers - Unlicensed

Funding for interest arbitration is provided. The interest arbitration award includes a general wage increase of 4% effective July 1, 2025, and 4% effective July 1, 2026, increases in the watch turnover rates of 4% effective July 1, 2025, and 4% effective July 1, 2026, and a targeted increase to the oiler series. (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

WSF Master Mates/Pilots-Masters

Funding for bargaining is provided. The agreement includes a general wage increase of 4% effective July 1, 2025, and 4% effective July 1, 2026, and a license reimbursement ($325). (Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State)

WFSE General Government

Funding for bargaining includes a 3%/2% general wage increase, targeted job classification increases, wildfire disaster leave, expanded bereavement leave, and paid vaccine travel time during pandemic emergencies. The agreement also includes: an additional $1 per hour supplemental shift premium for eligible employees who are assigned to a facility that provides direct care to residents, patients, and/or clients and whose duties are performed on location on evenings and weekends; 5% premium pay for employees who are assigned to a 24/7 facility that provides direct care to residents, patients, at-risk youth, and/or clients and whose duties are required to be performed on location, which will be in effect for the 2025–27 biennium; three additional steps on the nurse salary schedule; and an increase to the annual lump-sum payment for employees in LNI risk codes 7200/7201 from $500 to $750. (Motor Vehicle Account - Federal, Motor Vehicle Account - State, Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State, other funds)

Non-Rep General Wage Increase

Funding is provided for wage increases for state employees who are not represented by a union or are not under a bargaining agreement that is subject to financial feasibility determination. It is sufficient for a general wage increase of 3%, effective July 1, 2025, and a general wage increase of 2%, effective July 1, 2026. This item includes both general government and higher education workers. (Motor Vehicle Account - Federal, Motor Vehicle Account - State, Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State, other funds)

Updated PEBB Rate

This item adjusts the employer funding rate for public employee insurance benefits to reflect policy-level decision packages. It increases the rate by $8 per month in the first fiscal year and decreases the rate by $34 per month in the second fiscal year, compared to the maintenance-level update, for a total rate of $1,315 in the first year and $1,355 in the second year. (Aeronautics Account - State, Climate Transit Programs Account - State, SR #520 Corridor Account - State, other funds)

PERS & TRS Plan 1 Benefit Increase

An adjustment is made for pension contribution rates, including to fund a benefit increase of 3%, up to a maximum of $110 per month for eligible Public Employees' and Teachers' Retirement Systems Plan 1 members. (Motor Vehicle Account - Federal, Motor Vehicle Account - State, Puget Sound Ferry Operations Acct - State, other funds)

Pension Benefit Amortization

An adjustment is made to the base pension rates, as set out in a proposed bill addressing the calculation of the base rate for the 2025–27 biennium, as well as amortization of Plan 1 benefit increases. (Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Pro - State, Climate Transit Programs Account - State, Tacoma Narrows Toll Bridge Account - State, other funds)