No Ferry Tolls in NC House Version of Budget for 2014-2015! | Eastern NC Now

News Release:

    As of today, the newest version of the NC Budget contains language to delete ferry tolls on all ferries!

    Thanks to visionary members of the NC House Transportation Committee and the NC House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, the voices of coastal citizens have been heard.

    Beginning Wednesday morning, 6/11/14, a marathon session of the House Appropriations Committee will review this entire Budget version and will entertain amendments. You may listen to the Appropriations Committee discussion and debate by listening online to the Audio for Appropriations Committee Room/Room 643. Votes by the full House are expected on Thursday, 6/12/14 and Friday, 6/13/14. If you wish to listen to the budget debate in the full NC House of Representatives this week, you may listen to the House Chamber Audio Stream.

    Once the NC House of Representatives passes its version of the Budget and sends it to the Senate, then a process of negotiation begins. The Senate has passed its version of the Budget earlier this year. As you may recall, the Senate made no effort to help us with the looming ferry toll issue. By the end of this week, the House will have produced its very different version of North Carolina's Budget for FY 2014-2015. A "Conference Committee" will be appointed, with equal number of "Conferees" from the House and the Senate. The Conferees will meet to discuss the differences between the Senate's version and the House's version of the Budget to work out the differences.

    These negotiations are held privately.

    Depending on who is talking, this process may take days or it may take weeks! We will continue to work to persuade Senators that the House version of the Budget contains the most progressive and innovative approach to long-term ferry funding. Broad economic development in eastern and coastal North Carolina is the best answer to funding ferries as well as all transportation needs.

    Our ferries are part of our highway system, and the House Budget recognizes this reality. Soon, we will request your help in communicating these ideas to the appropriate Senators. Be encouraged by the House Budget, but recognize this fight is not over! Thank you for your continuing help and support.

    Best regards, Henri and Joe McClees

    Joe McClees & Henri McClees
      McClees Consulting, Inc.

      Post Office Box 430
      Oriental, NC 28571

      Office (252) 249-1097
      Fax (252) 249-3275
      www.mccleesconsulting.com
      Joe McClees's mobile (252) 671-1585
      Henri's mobile (252) 671-1559