[November 26, 2006] Proposal may keep free ferries: Daufuskie resort, county consider contract renewal Tweet (Island Packet (Hilton Head Island, SC) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Nov. 26--Daufuskie Island residents could continue to take free ferries to the mainland through next June if a proposed contract extension is approved. The agreement between Beaufort County and Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa would maintain the status quo for the remainder of the fiscal year. During that time, the county and state would look for a more cost-effective way to transport roughly 100 islanders to the mainland for work, medical appointments and shopping. One option would be to again join forces with the Beaufort County School District and allow the residents who use the ferry service to share the same boat with about a dozen schoolchildren. Many of the island's other residents use ferries provided by their residential communities. Beaufort County has $75,000 allocated for the ferry trips this budget year, $25,000 of which comes from the S.C. Department of Transportation. Each round-trip costs the county about $20 per passenger, with the exception of young children, who ride free. The price could increase if diesel costs rise, according to the agreement. Since July, the county has spent an average of $6,200 a month on ferry service, said Morris Campbell, the county's director of community services. At that rate, Beaufort County should have enough cash to fund the program through June. In the meantime, the county and state hope to negotiate with the school district to provide joint ferry service. Previously, islanders and students could ride together to and from Hilton Head Island, but the district decided to go it alone last summer with a new ferry provider. The total cost of that contract is $148,500, more than triple the amount previously paid. "That's an expensive school bus," Campbell said. The contract extension will be considered by the county's Community Services and Public Safety Committee on Monday and would require County Council approval. The county is not legally required to subsidize ferry trips, but it would like to continue offering the service, Campbell said. Contact Daniel Brownstein at 706-8125 or [email protected]. Copyright (c) 2006, The Island Packet, Hilton Head Island, S.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]