Possible Ferry Cancellations - Alaska
If you have a reservation for an Alaska Ferry for this summer, you might want to read this: http://www.ktoo.org/2015/04/10/travelers-not-told-ferries-may-canceled/
Forum Discussion
I suspect that all state agencies are gong to take a cut in their budgets, including the AMHS, ferry system. I doubt the cuts will be even across the board, as special interest groups still wield power in Alaska. The Alaska Constitution requires a balanced budget, so the revenues the state gets is what they have to spend.
The new governor made campaign promises to add some expansion to some programs, such as expanding Medicare in state. If he is able to push this through, where will the money come from?
Some other programs will have to be cut even deeper.
I believe the article mentioned above said the AMHS is currently looking at a budget reduction of approximately $11 million that could bleed into about $25 million in the end. The ferry system is a state subsidized operation and has never turned a profit, now was it ever expected to be profitable.
It was put in for SE residents to have low cost transportation throughout SE Alaska.
The new governor made campaign promises to add some expansion to some programs, such as expanding Medicare in state. If he is able to push this through, where will the money come from?
Some other programs will have to be cut even deeper.
I believe the article mentioned above said the AMHS is currently looking at a budget reduction of approximately $11 million that could bleed into about $25 million in the end. The ferry system is a state subsidized operation and has never turned a profit, now was it ever expected to be profitable.
It was put in for SE residents to have low cost transportation throughout SE Alaska.
