Senator hopes for agreement to fund ferries through mid-2020

JUNEAU, Alaska – An Alaska Senate leader says he wants to reach a budget agreement that would fund the state’s ferry system through mid-2020.

Sen. Bert Stedman says that would allow time for further discussion about management of the system going forward.

Stedman, a co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee, says he views Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget proposal as an “elimination budget” for the Alaska Marine Highway System. A spokeswoman for the ferry system says it hasn’t scheduled sailings past Oct. 1.

Dunleavy has requested a consultant’s report by Aug. 1 that looks at options for “reshaping” the system, such as through a public-private partnership. Implementation is targeted for July 1, 2020.

The budget that lawmakers are currently reviewing and debating would fund government services from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020.