Guemes Island Ferry

Ferry Operations Manager: Rachel Rowe

2026 Ferry Budget and Fare Schedule Proposal

The Skagit County Ferry Division is preparing for the annual meetings with the Skagit County Commissioners to set the 2026 ferry division budget and 2026 ferry fare schedule. The current fare schedule expires at the end of 2025, and we will be adopting a new schedule to be in effect on January 1, 2026.

The following documents have been prepared for review by the public and the County Commissioners:

How to Comment

Early public comment will be taken by e-mail or mail on the 2026 budget documents and proposed 2026 ferry fare schedule.

Email: ferrycomments@co.skagit.wa.us (use subject line: Ferry 2026 Fare Proposal)

Please include your comments in the body of the email and not in an attachment.

Mail: 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 ATTN: Ferry 2026 Fare Proposal

Upcoming Meetings

The Ferry Division will be meeting with the County Commissioners and presenting this information over the next few weeks. These meetings are open to the community; however, public comment will only be taken during the public hearing. Additional meetings will be scheduled and added here at a future date.

The public can join meetings either in-person in the Commissioner’s Hearing Room at 1800 Continental Place, or virtually via Zoom at the link below. The September 16th televised presentation and October 21st public hearing will also be available to watch on TV21.

Join Zoom Meeting HERE

You can also join a Commissioner meeting remotely by dialing 1-253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 871 8000 1980 Passcode: 143573

Date	Time	Meeting	Description	How to Join	Meeting Recordings
September 9th	1:00-2:30 p.m.	Non-televised Work Session	Initial review with County Commissioners of budget and ferry fare documents. **No public comment will be taken at this meeting.	Zoom and in-person, 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon	Video
September 16th	8:30 – 9:30 a.m.	Televised Presentation	Ferry staff will present the proposed ferry fare schedule and fare setting methodology. **No public comment will be taken at this meeting.	TV21, Zoom, and in-person, 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon	Video Presentation Slides
October 21st	1:00 – 2:30 p.m.	Public Hearing	Open public hearing to take feedback on 2026 ferry fare schedule.	TV21, Zoom, and in-person, 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon
November 10th	1:00 – 2:00 p.m.	Televised Hearing	Commissioners will consider the 2026 ferry fare schedule for adoption.	TV21, Zoom, and in-person, 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon

Background on Ferry Fare Methodology

On July 27, 2023, the Skagit County Commissioners adopted Resolution #20230152, amended by Resolution #R20250015, which sets the ferry fare revenue target methodology, including the formula used to calculate fares each year. The County Commissioners stated they intend to reach a 65% fare box recovery target by December 31, 2028, which requires ferry fares to increase steadily from 2023 – 2028 to reach that target.

The ferry division is directed to prepare an annual report pursuant to the revenue target formula found in Exhibit A of Resolution #20230152, amended by R20250015, and recommend a ferry rate schedule for the upcoming calendar year with an estimate of revenues based on those rates. The methodology for fare calculations uses the past two years of actual expenditures, the current year’s approved budget, and the next two year’s projected expenditures using cost escalation factors to establish the new ferry fare schedule.