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Charlevoix County Transportation Authority keeps ferry fares, sets April 15 opening and schedules FY2027 budget hearing
Summary
At its March 10 meeting the authority voted to keep 2026 fares at $5 per car and $1 per bike, tentatively set an April 15 opening with the remaining April days fare-free, approved a FY2027 Resolution of Intent with estimated expenses of $496,117 and scheduled a public hearing for April 14.
The Charlevoix County Transportation Authority on March 10, 2026, voted unanimously to maintain ferry fares for the 2026 season at $5.00 per car and $1.00 per bicycle, tentatively set April 15 as the opening day with the remaining days in April fare-free, and approved a FY2027 Resolution of Intent with estimated expenses of $496,117, setting a public hearing for April 14, 2026.
Becki King, the authority’s fiscal officer, summarized the completed 2025 audit, reporting that authority documents still list the Ferry as an asset, the authority’s full net position at the end of 2025 was $771,000 and $486,000 of that was in unrestricted funds for general operations; King also noted a few corrected journal entries.
On fares, Transportation Coordinator Joe Kroll recommended retaining the current price structure. The board approved the recommendation (motion by Scott Hankins, seconded by Michael Cunningham; roll-call vote 3–0). The board also tentatively set April 15 as the season opening and approved making the remainder of April fare-free (motion by Hankins, seconded by Pat Klooster; roll-call vote 3–0).
Kroll presented FY2027 budget materials and a Resolution of Intent that MDOT had already signed off on. The board approved the Resolution of Intent with estimated FY2027 expenses of $496,117 and scheduled a required public hearing for the authority’s next scheduled meeting on April 14, 2026; members noted that public notice must be posted for 30 days before final approval.
The authority set operating hours for the 2026 season: April 15–May 15 from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; May 16–September 15 from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; and September 16 through close from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The motions to adopt these hours carried by unanimous vote.
Kroll said he is researching a point-of-sale system to replace manual books; the authority will continue current recordkeeping until a system is selected.
The board considered a prior request to fund MERS from the Transportation Coordinator’s yearly stipend (approximately $5,550) and agreed the stipend should remain separate from transit funds. The board approved a 3% cost-of-living increase for the Transportation Coordinator, effective immediately and matching the October 1, 2025 increase other county and Ferry employees received (motion by Hankins, seconded by Cunningham; roll-call vote 3–0).
The authority approved the February 2026 monthly bills totaling $742.65 (motion by Pat Klooster, seconded by Michael Cunningham; roll-call vote 3–0). No public comment was received. The meeting was adjourned at 9:46 a.m. Minutes were submitted by Chief Deputy Clerk Kim Garver.
Ending: The authority’s next scheduled meeting will include a public hearing on the FY2027 budget on April 14, 2026; the board took no additional action at this meeting.