One budget down. Another one due in 11 months.
The St. Johns River Ferry Commission began its drive to find consistent funding Monday, a little more than a month after City Council put almost $450,000 in the fiscal 2013-14 budget to keep the service operating.
To keep it running beyond, the commission is seeking additional revenue from a variety of sources.
One it implemented this past month — adding $1 for additional vehicle occupants on weekends — was under fire from one member.
Val Bostwick said the increase in fares, which is estimated to generate about $65,000, would end up losing ridership. Others disagreed, saying the way the increase has been explained through the ferry’s volunteer ambassadors has been poor.
“It’s a necessity, period,” said Elaine Brown, a commission member. “There’s a reality … and the reality is the cost of running it has risen so much.”
Mark Fernandez, general manager of ferry operator HMS-Florida Inc., said the reasons for the increased fare to passengers “has to be communicated better.” The way the ambassadors were telling people to pay it — or not pay it — and their attitudes were like “throwing gas on the fire instead of sand.”
Updated signage displaying the fare increases will soon be on order to help better explain the fares.
Bostwick said he didn’t want to lose ridership because of people not taking multiple trips and ultimately wanted the service to be popular enough to need a second ferry.
No motion or action was taken to rescind the weekend rate increase.
The commission also could receive a boost Thursday when the Jacksonville Transportation Authority board possibly takes up an item dedicating $200,000 toward the service.
Several council members, including commission Chair John Crescimbeni, have pushed for the authority to help fund the service, calling it the link between Heckscher Drive and Mayport Village.
Authority board members in September took up the item, but it failed to be approved or denied because of a lack of the necessary votes. It had support at a 3-2
vote.
Crescimbeni said he was optimistic the board would vote to provide the funding, which could be an immediate benefit.
The service is scheduled to be out of the water for most of December, typically its slowest month for repairs.
And, it will have a projected deficit of about $673,000 next year, he said.
One positive the commission learned Monday was that the city and HMS have almost reached an agreement for insurance, with the price coming in about $5,000 under budget.
There are still three outstanding areas in the agreement, but it should be finalized and ready for a vote during the Nov. 25 commission meeting.
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