Great Job !!! Everyone who wrote, called, or emailed - Your voices were heard and tolling is no longer an issue during the 2024 House/Senate Budget Reconciliation. Please see the full Spectrum story by clicking the link below.
Ocracoke Civic and Business Association is calling on everyone who cares about Ocracoke and is concerned about the operation and funding of the Ferry System to take up the cause.
Ocracoke residents, homeowners and visitors alike:
In the next few days and weeks, the North Carolina Legislature will be finalizing its budget. Currently there are two versions. One is the House Version, the other is the Senate Version.
The House version is much more favorable to funding the Ferry System. In addition, the Senate Version calls for establishment of a toll on the Ocracoke-Hatteras car ferry.
We are asking you to do any or all of the following:
- Write an email, make copies and send it everyone on the list below (and others as you may wish).
- Prepare a statement and call everyone on the list below.
- Sign the petition which you will see in public places around the village. Share this posting on social media so that others will participate.
- Make a Tik Tok or Instagram post, etc., to bring in more participants.
The first two pages are sample letters that you may use as is or adapt to your own personal style.
On the third page are some important facts and figures that you might be able to use in your
email/post/phone call.
On the fourth page is a list of the recipients who are the most critical to our efforts
In all of your communications, please be courteous and express your own perspective.
Sample Letter
May 25, 2023
Dear Senator/Representative:
As a [resident of/homeowner on/visitor to] Ocracoke Island, I am writing to urge you to adopt the House-approved levels of funding for the North Carolina Ferry Division of $87M for FY 23-24 and $91M for FY 24-25 during the upcoming Appropriations Conference Committee. In addition, I request that you reject the proposal in the Senate-approved bill to allow tolling on the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry route until such time as there is an established process for stakeholder engagement on such a significant proposal. 3 of the 4 ferry routes serving Ocracoke are already subject tolling. A toll on the Hatteras-Ocracoke route would eliminate any free travel option for island residents to travel for groceries or
attend medical appointments.
I further request that funds be restricted specifically for Ocracoke vehicle and passenger ferry routes.
Effective and efficient ferry operations are critical for all the residents of, homeowners on, and visitors to the thriving if remote community on Ocracoke Island. Ferry operations to/from Hatteras Island and Cedar Island are an essential component of NC State Highway 12 and are part of a nationally recognized National Scenic Byway. Both these ferry routes are also part of the NC Mountains to Sea Scenic Trail. The Swan Quarter/Ocracoke ferry route provides necessary access for Ocracoke residents to Hyde Count courthouse. The longer route for the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry in recent years has increased fuel and maintenance costs.
Ferry travelers of all sorts generate revenue for the state of North Carolina both on and off the island through various taxes paid on the purchase of gasoline, food & beverage, souvenirs, supplies, vehicles, and building materials. For many, a ferry ride is part of their overall North Carolina experience. Many visitors consider it a part of and not just a means to their vacations. According to a 2020 study by the Institute for Transportation & Research Education at NC State University, the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry route alone generates $19M per year in tax revenue to state and local governments.
I urge you to adopt the House-approved levels of funding for this important public service that is part of the overall North Carolina transportation system and reject new tolling on the Hatteras-Ocracoke route without community engagement.
Sincerely Yours,
Sample Letter
May 25, 2023
Dear [Insert recipient’s Name],
As a [resident /homeowner /visitor] of Ocracoke Island, I am writing to urge you to push for the adoption of the House-approved levels of funding for the North Carolina Ferry System during the upcoming Appropriations Conference Committee.
I request that you work to reject any toll on the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry until such time as there is an established process for stakeholder engagement. I further request that funds be restricted specifically for Ocracoke vehicle and passenger ferry routes.
We are not asking that Ocracoke get special treatment, but on the contrary, that Ocracoke should have the same level of access to North Carolina transportation infrastructure as do all other North Carolina communities. Three of the four ferry routes serving Ocracoke are already tolled. A fee on the Hatteras-Ocracoke route would eliminate any toll-free travel option for island residents.
Business, jobs, and the economic health of Ocracoke is tied directly to the reliability and accessibility of the ferry service. For the past decade, service has fallen and access has become extremely limited, with visitor wait times often exceeding two hours. Make no mistake, what is bad for Ocracoke business is bad for the State of North Carolina. Ocracoke is the key economic driver for Hyde County, providing nearly 60% of local tax revenue to a county with a median family income almost 18% below the state average. And, according to a 2020 NC State study, the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry route alone facilitates $19M per year in tax revenue to state and local governments.
It is a common misunderstanding that Ocracoke is populated by wealthy owners of seaside homes. In fact, Ocracoke is a middle-income working community of almost 1,000 full time residents. They are construction and maintenance workers, waitresses, cooks, cleaners, teachers, entrepreneurs, fishermen, and shop owners and their livelihood is dependent on a vibrant tourism economy. Which is itself very much dependent on a fully funded, efficient ferry system.
We are asking you to push to assure the adoption of the House-approved ferry appropriation for FY 24 and 25 and to hold off on any Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry toll.
But please understand what we really need is a fully funded ferry system, we need to shorten visitor wait times and we need to revive our economy so that Ocracoke can continue to be a key economic force on the Outer Banks.
If you have never been to Ocracoke, please accept this as an invitation. Come and see for yourself and enjoy this wonderful North Carolina asset.
Sincerely Yours,
Ferry Budget letters
Talking points (combined) 5/26/2023
Adopt the House-approved levels of funding for the North Carolina Ferry Division of $87M for FY 23-24 and $91M for FY 24-25 during the upcoming Appropriations Conference Committee.
Reject the proposal in the Senate-approved bill calling for tolling on the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry route until such time as there is an established process for stakeholder engagement.
Request that funds be restricted specifically for Ocracoke vehicle and passenger ferry routes.
3 of the 4 ferry routes serving Ocracoke are already tolled. A toll on the Hatteras-Ocracoke route would eliminate any free travel option for island residents to travel for groceries or attend medical appointments.
Ferry service isn’t free. We pay for it the same way other NC residents pay for their roads and bridges – by paying taxes.
Ferry travelers pay NC taxes both on and off the island.
NCDOT revenue sources: Federal gas tax (37%); State gas tax (34%); License and registration fees (14%); Tax on vehicle sales (15%). Ocracokers pay these taxes, just as all other NC residents pay these taxes.
The ferry budget is a very small part of NCDOT spending -- about 9/10s of one percent of the total NCDOT budget, which is $6.4 billion.
Ferry operations to/from Hatteras Island and Cedar Island are an essential component of NC State Highway 12. Ferries are part of a nationally recognized National Scenic Byway. Both these ferry routes are also part of the NC Mountains to Sea Scenic Trail.
The Swan Quarter/Ocracoke ferry route provides necessary access for Ocracoke residents to Hyde County courthouse.
The longer route for the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry in recent years has increased fuel and maintenance costs.
According to a 2020 study by the Institute for Transportation & Research Education at NC State University, the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry route alone generates $19 million per year in tax revenue
to state and local governments.
People in NCGA to Contact on Ferry Budget
Ocracoke Rep. - Kieth Kidwell, keith.kidwell@ncleg.gov, 919-733-5881
Ocracoke Senator - Norman Sanderson, norman.sanderson@ncleg.gov, 919-733-5706
Appropriations/Budget Chairs
House Appropriations Committee Chair - Dean Arp, dean.arp@ncleg.gov, 704-282-0418
House Appropriations Committee Chair - Donny Lambeth, donny.lambeth@ncleg.gov, 919-733-5747
House Appropriations Committee Chair - Jason Saine, jason.saine@ncleg.gov, 919-733-5782
House Transportation Appropriations Chairs - Frank Iler, frank.iler@ncleg.gov, 919-301-1450
House Transportation Appropriations Chairs - Phil Shepard, phil.shepard@ncleg.gov, 910-389-6392
Senate Approps/Base Budget Chairs, Ralph Hise, ralph.hise@ncleg.gov, 919-733-3460
Senate Approps/Base Budget Chairs - Brent Jackson, brent.jackson@ncleg.gov, 919-733-5705
Senate Approps/Base Budget Chairs - Michael Lee, michael.lee@ncleg.gov 919-715-2525
Senate Transportation Approps Chairs - Michael Lazzara, michael.lazzara@ncleg.gov, 919-715-3034
Senate Transportation Approps Chairs - Tom McInnis, tom.mcinnis@ncleg.gov, 919-733-5953
Senate Transportation Approps Chairs - Vickie Sawyer, vickie.sawyer@ncleg.gov 919-715-3038
Other
Board of Transportation District 1 Representative - Allen Moran, bot-allenmoran@ncdot.gov, 252-423-1309
N.C. Secretary of Transportation - Eric Boyette, jeboyette@ncdot.gov 919-707-2800