A Matter of Public Trust "On July 27, 2023, the Board of County Commissioners of Skagit County passed Resolution #R20230152 which overturned the long standing, from 2020-2011, ferry fare calculation methodology which was based on a five-year rolling average of actual costs of running the Guemes Ferry. R20230152 replaced this methodology with one based on an new estimated budget that will essentially be increased by about 14% per year through 2028 regardless of the actual cost of running the vessel...Below is a recent article about a different approach to public trust and transparency in a proposal to change the ferry fare methodology used for the Whatcom County ferry, the Whatcom Chief " [Read more]
$572,000 for Ferry Insurance For $5,600 In Claims "In 2022, the ferry insurance expense increased from the planned $123,990...to $572,000. This was created from the county?s decision to charge the ferry with a portion of the WCRP [Washington County Risk Pool] premium based on claims - our claims totaled $5,600 from four fender benders. These were not paid for through either the WCRP (again, because the ferry and ferry systems are excluded) nor the Marine Policy (well below the deductible)." [Read more]
2024 Ferry Expenses and Revenue Reports
2024 Expenses | 2024 Revenue
Remembering Mark Antoncich"Mark was an entrepreneurial spirit, full of ideas, and preferred to work for himself. He was generous and kind, always willing to help someone out. He loved boats, planes, sea shanties, cleaning up (picking up litter from roadsides and cleaning junk out of Sammamish slough in Bothell.) He was involved with a prison outreach program called Man to Man, organized programs like winter coats and blankets to downtown Seattle needy, and starting Helping Hands at Northshore Rotary, among other programs." [Read more]
Neighborhood Meeting On New Ferry November 14, Skagit County presented their plans for the new ferry and modifications to the dock to the citizens of Anacortes. Meeting Slide Presentation
The Remarkable Life of Harry Smith Bret Lunsford has published a book about Harry Smith who came of age in the 1950s. Harry Smith was an uber-nerd polymath deeply entwined in the audio history of the Lummi tribe, original American folk music, and a family friend of Bubble. A section of the book describes the early history of Guemes Island, including the potlatch structure on the west side and Indian Village.[Read more]
Guemes Island Property Sales LAST SALE: 11.11.23