Skagit County commissioners hear calls for audit as they consider correcting Guimas Island ferry oversized-vehicle fares

Skagit County commissioners on April 20 heard a public hearing on correcting oversized-vehicle fares for the Guimas Island Ferry after staff discovered the fares had been calculated on a separate spreadsheet and did not reflect the 30% increase approved for other categories.

"If you approve the resolution that's in front of you, those fares will be effective 05/20/2026," said Rachel Rowe, Ferry Division Manager for Skagit County Public Works, explaining the proposed amendment would only change Exhibit C (the fare schedule) and that the estimated revenue effect would be less than 1 percent of fare-box recovery (about $27,000).

Rowe told commissioners the county plans to revise its fare tool so the oversized-vehicle categories are calculated consistently with other fares; she said the oversize rates had been maintained on a separate tab and were unintentionally excluded from the earlier increase.

The presentation and staff materials stressed the proposed change would not alter other fare categories, miscellaneous fees, or special-run charges, and asked the board to adopt a May 20 effective date to allow time to update brochures and the ticketing system.

Several residents and island stakeholders told commissioners the correction was necessary but urged a broader response. "The judge said explicitly, no. You have to go back and fix all of the $20.25 fares," said Michael Brown, a Guimas Island resident, referencing a Superior Court ruling by Judge Loring that residents said found the county’s earlier fare-setting process "capricious and arbitrary." Brown and other speakers said the county should comply fully with the court remand rather than address only the oversized-vehicle categories.

Steve Orsini, whose group has sought meetings with county staff, said the court in January invalidated two resolutions tied to the 2025 fare schedule and that the county had not engaged with his group's proposed meeting to resolve the remand. "We're asking you to follow the court's order and correct the entire 2025 fares," Orsini said.

Remote commenters urged process fixes and oversight. "I respectfully ask the board to commit to completing the full remand of the resolutions that Judge Loring ordered," said Cindy Camp, who also asked the county to commission an independent audit of ferry operations and to reinstate the Guimas Island Ferry Committee to improve transparency. Becca Fong asked commissioners to allow more time for public comment and analysis; Gina Haggerty asked what departmental changes would prevent repeated calculation errors and whether the costs of making the correction justified the revenue change.

Commissioners expressed concern about repeated errors and the broader legal issues. "My only thought on this is consulting with the attorneys on the other rates, to ensure that we are in line with rulings," Commissioner Burns said. Commissioners discussed whether to approve the correction today or to delay; most said they preferred more time to consult county attorneys and staff.

Rather than vote on the fare resolution at the hearing, the board closed the public comment period by unanimous voice vote and agreed to bring the item back next week — either on the consent agenda or as a miscellaneous item — after legal review and staff assurances about process improvements. No resolution amending the fare schedule was adopted at the April 20 session.

The next procedural step is for county staff and attorneys to advise commissioners on whether the narrow correction proposed today fulfills the court remand or whether additional changes to the 2025 fare schedule are required; commissioners told members of the public they would consider the hearing record and additional written comments before deciding next week.