Your Support Fuels Our Fight for Fair Ferry Fares – Legal Update
Dear Community Members/Friends/Supporters of Fair Fares,
First and foremost, thank you. Your generous contributions to Fair Fares, LLC have made it possible for us to pursue an Administrative Appeal challenging Skagit County’s ferry fare increases and financial misrepresentations. Thanks to you, we're standing up for transparency, accountability, and fairness. This battle is far from over—but together, we’re making real progress.
Where We Stand in the Appeal Process
Since filing our appeal on February 10, 2025, under RCW 36.32.330, legal proceedings have begun unfolding. After 25 days, the County officially responded, designating Eric Pedersen, Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, as their representative.
What followed were a series of procedural motions from both sides, disputing which appeals process should apply. While both parties filed to dismiss parts of the case, we’ve now agreed to move forward under a shared legal schedule:
🗓 Key Dates Ahead
· May 1 – County presents their proposed Record
· May 16 – Deadline to agree on the Record
· May 30 – Tentative hearing to resolve any Record disputes
· June 19 – Our legal brief due
· July 18 – County’s legal brief due
· July 31 – Our reply brief due
· Aug–Sept (TBD) – Final hearing
We’re now entering the phase of building the Matter of Record—the foundation of our case. It includes everything that happened in creating the resolutions we’re challenging. If we and the County can’t agree on what belongs in the record, the May 30th hearing will determine the final content.
A New Twist: All Judges Recused
In a rare move, all four Skagit County Superior Court Judges have recused themselves from hearing the case. While they aren’t required to explain why, the case will now likely be transferred to a neighboring county—possibly Whatcom or Snohomish. We’re awaiting confirmation, and this shift could impact our hearing timeline.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
As we dig deeper, more inconsistencies are surfacing. Skagit County recently submitted its 2024 Ferry Systems Operations Report to the State Department of Transportation, a requirement for receiving state ferry funding.
But here’s what doesn’t add up:
🚢 Reported 2024 Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Costs: $2,893,135
📊 Adjusted O&M in Fare Target Report: $4,169,792
This discrepancy—over $1.2 million—is largely due to how the County allocated haul-out and maintenance costs. While the County claims a $1.8 million Road Fund subsidy, the actual number is closer to $915,434.
To make matters worse, $286,890 in federal ferry grant funding was labeled “Other Revenue” in the report. This technical categorization reduces our state reimbursement. And we’re still asking:
Where is the Zero Youth Fare reimbursement?
Other counties like Whatcom and Pierce report this as revenue. Why doesn’t Skagit?
Help Us Keep Fighting
This isn’t just about fares—it’s about truth, transparency, and fairness for our entire community. Your continued support enables us to cover legal costs, expert analysis, and advocacy efforts as we hold Skagit County accountable.
Donate Now to Fair Fares, LLC
Every contribution—large or small—keeps us moving forward. If you would like to donate, please send a check to: Fair Fares, LLC at 4971 Guemes Island Road, Anacortes, WA 98221 or donate on this link to ZEFFY:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-make-a-difference-11583
With deep gratitude,
Fair Fares, LLC