Update on the Ferry Tolls
The NC General Assembly is moving quickly toward resolve its 2016 budget. The House & Senate have each passed its own version of House Bill #1030 (the budget bill). The House version(version 3) helps coastal transportation issues tremendously, providing for a stable funding source for ferry vessel purchases and removing ferry tolling. The Senate version (version #6) leaves ferry tolling in place and provides no effective funding for ferry vessel replacement.
Because the House & Senate did not agree, they each appointed “Conferees” to work out their differences. The HB#1030 Conference Committee (21 Senators & 44 Representatives) was finalized yesterday, and has already begun work. One aspect of negotiations is to analyze the differences in spending in each major section of the Budget, including Education, Health & Human Services, Agriculture & Economic Resources, Justice & Public Safety, General Government, and Transportation. We need help in the Transportation Section of the Budget!
We are asking you to quickly contact the following Senators on the Conference Committee and politely ask them to protect coastal citizens and the coastal economy by providing for a stable funding source for ferry vessel replacements and by removing ferry tolling, specific including NO FERRY TAX for the Ocracoke Hatteras Ferry. Coastal citizens need help in the Transportation Section of this Budget!
Here are the Senators and their emails and Raleigh office telephone numbers. If you can only have time to contact a few, start at the top of the list and begin with Chairman Sen. Harry Brown.
1. Senator Harry Brown, harry.brown@ncleg.net; 919-715-3034
2. Senator Brent Jackson, brent.jackson@ncleg.net; 919-733-5705
3. Senator Kathy Harrington, kathy.harrington@ncleg.net; 919-733-5734
4. Senator Wesley Meredith, wesley.meredith@ncleg.net; 919-733-5776
5. Senator Bill Rabon, bill.rabon@ncleg.net; 919-733-5963
6. Senator Jerry Tillman, jerry.tillman@ncleg.net; 919-733-5870
7. Senator Norman W. Sanderson, norman.sanderson@ncleg.net; 919-733-5706
8. Senator Bill Cook, bill.cook@ncleg.net; 919-715-8293
9. Senator Tommy Tucker, tommy.tucker@ncleg.net; 919-733-7659
10. Senator Jim Davis, jim.davis@ncleg.net; 919-733-8875
11. Senator Louis Pate, louis.pate@ncleg.net; 919-733-5621
12. Senator Ralph Hise, ralph.hise@ncleg.net; 919-733-3460
13. Senator Rick Gunn, rick.gunn@ncleg.net; 919-301-1446
14. Senator Tom Apodaca, tom.apodaca@ncleg.net; 919-733-5745
15. Senator E.S. “Buck” Newton, buck.newton@ncleg.net; 919-715-3030
16. Senator Shirley B. Randleman, shirley.randleman@ncleg.net; 919-733-5743
17. Senator Andrew C. Brock, andrew.brock@ncleg.net; 919-715-0690
18. Senator Chad Barefoot, chad.barefoot@ncleg.net; 919-715-3036
19. Senator Trudy Wade, trudy.wade@ncleg.net; 919-733-5856
20. Senator Bob Rucho; bob.rucho@ncleg.net; 919-733-5655
21. Senator Stan Bingham; stan.bingham@ncleg.net; 919-733-5665
Be brief, direct, and polite. Ask each Senator to provide (1) a stable funding source for ferry vessel replacement and (2) protect Ocracoke citizens from a ferry tax on the Ocracoke Hatteras ferry.
Email or call the Raleigh office of each Senator. If you cannot speak directly to the Senator, leave a polite voice message about the two (2) items in the above paragraph. Thank the Senator for his or her service to the citizens of North Carolina. Keep your message brief and focused.
Thank you for your help. We have been told the Senators have NOT heard from Ocracoke citizens this year as they have in past years on the ferry tax issue! They need to hear from you immediately. If you have any questions about the ferry tax issue, please do not hesitate to contact Joe or Henri. Call us on our mobiles phones. Best regards, Joe & Henri McClees
Joe & Henri McClees, Lobbyists for Hyde County
McClees Consulting, Inc.
PO Box 430
Oriental, NC 28571-0430
Office (252) 249-1097
Fax (252) 249-3275
Joe’s mobile (252) 671-1585
Henri’s mobile (252) 671-1559
