With high priority needs like the $200 million shortfall in Metro Transit’s budget, Metropolitan King County Council members Larry Phillips has called on the chair of the King County Ferry District to convene a special meeting for immediate action to stop the bleeding by reprioritizing Ferry District funds.

“The Ferry District shouldn’t be heading into recess while the people of King County are worrying about whether they will have a bus to ride,” said Phillips. “There is mounting consensus that passenger ferry service is an extra King County can no longer afford when basic high-priority services need funding.”

Last week, Phillips called for a halt to the collection of Ferry District taxes in order to use the revenues to offset potential cuts to Metro bus service.

Members of the King County Council who sit as the Ferry District Board are on summer recess for the first two weeks of August, and the next regular Ferry District meeting is not scheduled until November.

The Ferry District Board met on July 27, but due to the absence of several members who are representing King County at the National Association of Counties conference, the board was unable to consider Phillips’ resolution for the reprioritizing of Ferry District funds.