Dear Friends of Ocracoke:
We would like to ask you to contact the Legislators below to ask them to support $3.8 million for the Ferry Division fuel budget. Below is verbiage sent by Ocracoke Access Alliance and the emails for the NC Legislators & staff. Please send separate emails to the members listed below, not a group email. Legislative emails follow the sample letter.
We thank you for your support of the OCBA and our efforts to secure adequate funding for our "moving highways"--the ferries!
Dear _____________:
I/we would like to express our strong support for the request from the NC Ferry Division for $3.8 million in additional non-recurring funding to address rising fuel costs, increasing the fuel budget $9.8 million from $6 million.
The Ferry Division has no control over the price of fuel. Without this additional funding, severe operational reductions will be necessary system wide.
For the ferry routes serving Ocracoke, this is peak season. Any reduction in service will have severe economic impacts on island businesses, especially those dependent upon day-tripper traffic.
Currently, visitors often spend hours in line waiting to visit Ocracoke. Reductions in service will exacerbate this challenge and many visitors will turn away before ever visiting us.
As you conclude your budget negotiations, we urge you to include this critically needed non-recurring funding.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely yours,
phil.shepard@ncleg.gov <phil.shepard@ncleg.gov>; destin.hall@ncleg.gov <destin.hall@ncleg.gov>; William.Cobb@ncleg.gov <william.cobb@ncleg.gov>; justus.cochran@ncleg.gov <justus.cochran@ncleg.gov>; Sen. Bobby Hanig <bobby.hanig@ncleg.gov>; Rep. Keith Kidwell <keith.kidwell@ncleg.gov>; bill.rabon@ncleg.gov <bill.rabon@ncleg.gov>; Vickie.Sawyer@ncleg.gov <vickie.sawyer@ncleg.gov>; Michael.Lazzara@ncleg.gov <michael.lazzara@ncleg.gov>; Sen. Norman Sanderson <norman.sanderson@ncleg.gov>