Current Costs

Whatcom County Ordinance 2005-090 states in part: "Beginning January 1, 2006, a 55% Fare Box Recovery Rate shall be applied and evaluated continuously from that time forward. An annual review of Ferry System services, actual and projected Operating Costs, and actual and projected revenue from Ferry User Fees shall occur in order to verify the 55% Fare Box Recovery Rate is being achieved."

"In any given year the actual Fare Box Recovery Rate exceeds 55%, the excess revenue shall be retained in the Ferry System Fund and applied only to future Operating Costs."

"In any given year the actual Fare Box Recovery Rate is below 55%, the difference shall be recovered in a future Ferry User Fee increase, unless there is adequate excess Ferry User Fee revenue remaining in the Ferry System Fund collected during prior years."

2018 Costs

In 2018, expenditures for the Lummi Island Ferry System totaled $3,149,759 (2.7% increase from 2017). Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax (Ferry Deficit Reimbursement) of $337,738 partially offset these costs. This resulted in net maintenance and operations expenditures of $2,770,518. Meanwhile, Fare-Box receipts totaled $1,551,294 or 49.25% of total operating costs and 56.0% of the Adjusted Total Operating Costs, as calculated per Whatcom County Code (WCC 10.34.030). The cumulative 2006-2018 Fare Box recovery rate is 56.0%, slightly exceeding the 55% target rate set in the WCC. The Road Fund subsidized the Ferry Operations Fund with $1,414,729 in 2018. The resulting 2018 net operating gain of $186,955 increased the 2018 Ferry Operating Fund balance by 7.75%.

2017 Costs

In 2017, expenditures for the Lummi Island Ferry System totaled $3,065,538 (9.8% increase from 2016). Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax (Ferry Deficit Reimbursement) of $316,769 partially offset these costs. This resulted in net maintenance and operations expenditures of $2,719,069. Meanwhile, Fare-Box receipts totaled $1,521,088 or 49.62% of total operating costs and 55.9% of the Adjusted Total Operating Costs, as calculated per Whatcom County Code (WCC 10.34.030). The cumulative 2006-2017 Fare Box recovery rate is 56.3%, slightly exceeding the 55% target rate set in the WCC. The Road Fund subsidized the Ferry Operations Fund with $1,382,155 in 2017. The resulting 2017 net operating gain of $174,074 increased the 2017 Ferry Operating Fund balance by 8.3%.

2016 Costs

In 2016, expenditures for the Lummi Island Ferry System totaled $2,792,432 (7.4% increase from 2015). Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax (Ferry Deficit Reimbursement) of $132,026 partially offset these costs. This resulted in net maintenance and operations expenditures of $2,630,097. Meanwhile, Fare-Box receipts totaled $1,479,971 or 53% of total operating costs and 56.3% of the Adjusted Total Operating Costs, as calculated per Whatcom County Code (WCC 10.34.030). The cumulative 2006-2016 Fare Box recovery rate is 56.3%, slightly exceeding the 55% target rate set in the WCC. The Road Fund subsidized the Ferry Operations Fund with $1,256,594 in 2016. The resulting 2016 net operating gain of $91,848 increased the 2016 Ferry Operating Fund balance by 3.9%. 

2015 Costs

In 2015, expenditures for the Lummi Island Ferry System totaled $2,600,348 (6% increase from 2014). Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax (Ferry Deficit Reimbursement) of $161,839 partially offset these costs. This resulted in net maintenance and operations expenditures of $2,438,509. Meanwhile, Fare-Box receipts totaled $1,459,800 or 56.1% of total operating costs and 60.3% of the Adjusted Total Operating Costs, as calculated per Whatcom County Code (WCC 10.34.030). The cumulative 2006-2015 Fare Box recovery rate is 56.4%, slightly exceeding the 55% target rate set in the WCC. The Road Fund subsidized the Ferry Operations Fund with $1,170,156 in 2015. The resulting 2015 net operating gain of $201,341 increased the 2015 Ferry Operating Fund balance by 10.7%. 

2014 Costs

In 2014, expenditures for the Lummi Island Ferry System totaled $2,454,448 (2.7% decrease from 2013). Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax (Ferry Deficit Reimbursement) of $211,515 partially offset these costs. This resulted in net maintenance and operations expenditures of $2,242,933. Meanwhile, Fare-Box receipts totaled $1,481,783 which is equal to 60.4% of total operating costs and 66.6% of the Adjusted Total Operating Costs, as calculated per Whatcom County Code (WCC 10.34.030). Despite 2014’s higher-than-target (55%) Fare Box recovery percentage the cumulative 2006-2014 Fare Box recovery rate is only 55.8% which just slightly exceeds the 55% target rate set in the WCC. The Road Fund subsidized the Ferry Operations Fund with $1,104,502 in 2014. The resulting 2014 net operating gain of $357,448, increased the 2013 Ferry Operating Fund balance by 23.5%.

2013 Costs

In 2013 expenditures for the Lummi Island Ferry System totaled $2,521,621. Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax (Ferry Deficit Reimbursement) of $134,374 partially offset these costs. This results in net maintenance and operations expenditures of $2,387,247. Fare-box receipts totaled $1,475,990 which is equal to 58.5% of total operating costs and 61.8% of net operating expenditures. The Road Fund transferred in $1,134,729 to subsidize ferry operations. The net operating gain for 2013 after this transfer was $229,131.

2012 Costs

In 2012 expenditures for the Lummi Island Ferry System totaled $2,488,023. Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax (Ferry Deficit Reimbursement) of $181,433 partially offset these costs. This results in net maintenance and operations expenditures of $2,306,590. Fare-box receipts totaled $1,447,131 which is equal to 58.2% of total operating costs, and 62.7% of net operating expenditures. The Road Fund transferred in $1,119,611 to subsidize ferry operations. The net operating gain for 2012 after this transfer was $266,820.

2011 Costs

In 2011 expenditures for the Lummi Island Ferry System totaled $2,445,720. Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax (Ferry Deficit Reimbursement) of $165,174 partially offset these costs. This results in net maintenance and operations expenditures of $2,267,811. Fare-box receipts totaled $1,545,829 which is equal to 63.2% of total operating costs, and 68.2% of net operating expenditures. The Road Fund transferred in $1,100,574 to subsidize ferry operations. The net operating gain for 2011 after this transfer was $372,892.