Tisbury Sets Nov. 18 Meeting on Ferry Fee

By ALEXIS TONTI

Tisbury will hold a special election Nov. 18 to determine whether
the town will charge a 50-cent ferry fee for each passenger departing
from the Vineyard Haven terminal.

The Tisbury selectmen, who unanimously support the fee, said Tuesday
it will generate as much as $300,000 a year for the port community.

If approved, the fee will take effect in the new year.

The selectmen emphasized that the fee most likely will impact
tourists and daytrippers. It will not apply to those who purchase
commuter books, excursion fares or who travel on a sports team.

"Hopefully this will be tourist dollars rather than taxpayer
dollars," said selectman Tom Pachico.

"It is my understanding that someone will be collecting this
money regardless," said board chairman Tristan Israel. "If
that is the case, we should be collecting the money. This is real big
for the town, to have this year after year."

The money will be earmarked for public safety, harbor services and
port infrastructure improvements.

The town of Oak Bluffs, where the fee could generate as much as
$200,000 in annual revenue, will also hold a special election on the
question. The selectmen have not yet set a date.

The state legislature approved the fee as an amendment to the
municipal relief package passed in July. Aimed at softening the blow
from state cuts to local aid, the plan allows cities and towns to raise
a variety of fees on everything from parking and driving infractions to
fire inspections.

The law calls for a 50-cent fee to be charged on each one-way
passenger trip on ferries that travel the routes between the Cape and
the Islands. The fee, which applies to the Steamship Authority and
private ferries, will be collected by the boat lines and paid to the
town where the trip originates. Money collected on a round-trip fare
will be split between ports.

The fee is also subject to local referendums in Falmouth,
Barnstable, Nantucket, Yarmouth, New Bedford and Fairhaven.