State provides funding for ferry expenses

Wahkiakum County officials on Tuesday signed an agreement with the State of Washington to cover unbudgeted expenses of the ferry "Wahkiakum."

The agreement, funded by recent legislative action, helps cover extra costs incurred last year when the ferry was called into service when highways were closed along the lower Columbia in Oregon and Washington.

Under a long existing arrangement, the state has subsidized 80 percent of the ferry's operating cost. However, the legislature's previous allocation didn't provide adequate funding to cover the unbudgeted, emergency expenses.

The legislation includes:

--A lump sum payment of $245,352.16 for unanticipated costs;

--A one-time payment to reimburse the county retroactively $71,762.51 to cover the difference between the original monthly amount and the increased monthly operating cost.

--An adjustment to the monthly reimbursement to $37,500.

--And an extension of the agreement from May 4, 2008 to June 30, 2009.

"This is really good news," county Public Works Director Pete Ringen said Tuesday. "We will be able to operate without burdening the people of our county."