LUMMI ISLAND, Wash. — The ferry is the only way the people of Lummi Island can get to the mainland.
It's is a lifeline for the 800 or so people living on the island; a lifeline that could soon get much more expensive.
"It raises the cost of living here exponentially," said island resident and attorney Peter Earle.
The Lummi Island ferry is owned and operated by Whatcom County. The county says it need to raise fares to pay for operating expenses. Some islanders believe the county is charging them for things that they shouldn't be.
Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu recently signed an executive order significantly raising ferry rates. He said the rate hike is necessary to make up for about $500,000 in revenue shortfalls.
But Peter Earle believes the money is actually going to pay for $800,000 in repairs to one of the ferry docks as well as rent paid on land to the Lummi Indian tribe.
"It's supposed to be for regular and routine maintenance," he said.
According to Earle, ferry dock repairs were extensive and anything but routine, and he doesn't believe rent to the tribe fits that definition either.
He has filed for a court injunction to stop the rate hike.
"This is something the Whatcom County executive and council are oblivious to," said Earle. "This is stupid, stupid stuff that they're doing, and they know it."
The increases would hit island residents the hardest by cutting frequent rider discounts and increasing fares from $8.40 to $12.20.
"This affects young families with children, fathers and mothers who have to go punch a clock on the mainland. By raising ferry fares you can increase their cost of living by an amount larger than the money they have in their day to day budget," said Earle.
A spokesman for the Whatcom County executive said the office cannot comment on pending litigation.
But Peter Earle isn't holding back.
"The law means what the law says," he said.
Earle vows to sink the ferry increase one way or another.
"We're not gonna let it happen, we're not gonna let it happen," he said. "We're just not gonna let it happen."
A hearing about Earle's proposed injunction to stop the rate hike is set for May 22.
The fare increases are set to go into effect June 1.
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