By Ken Heath, Chairman | Pamlico County Commission
EASTERN NC – With the primary over, the NC Senate is pushing forward on its plan to impose new ferry tolls on routes that have ALWAYS been free – Hatteras-Ocracoke, Cherry Branch-Minnesott (key for Pamlico County), Currituck-Knotts Island, and others.
Senate leaders reportedly held up final budget action until after primary voting to avoid any backlash that could hurt incumbents running for re-election. This tactic prolonged the process and kept controversial items like these tolls under wraps during election season.
Under the Senate’s proposed budget, you would face:
- $3 and more for vehicles under 20 feet
- $30 for larger vehicles
- $1 (or more) per passenger
- Plus big hikes (often doubling) on already tolled routes like Cedar Island-Ocracoke, and Swan Quarter-Ocracoke.
This isn’t a one-off – similar proposals have surfaced before, but the push is back strong now. Positive note: The NC House budget does NOT include these new ferry tolls! Their version looks more balanced and sensible overall, though rural counties (like Pamlico and many others) are still hurting from rising costs and could really benefit from targeted appropriations for:
- Education
- Health Department Buildings and Services
- Senior Services
- Public Water Systems
- Sewer Expansion
Studies show the NC Ferry System supports hundreds of millions in economic activity, jobs, and tax revenue statewide – tolls could reduce ridership, hurt local businesses, shrink tourism dollars, and impact quality of life in areas where alternatives (like long detours) are expensive in time and fuel.
Negotiations between the House and Senate are heating up over the next few weeks. Let’s call on our House members to stand firm and protect our ferries as free extensions of our highways – NO NEW TOLLS!
