Friday, July 8, 2016
The regular monthly meeting schedule for Monday (July 11) with N.C. Ferry Division officials and Ocracoke islanders has been cancelled, and the next meeting will be Monday, Aug. 8, in the Ocracoke Community Center.
In cancelling this month’s meeting, Jed Dixon, deputy director of the Ferry Division, said the postponement will give the division time to understand how the new legislation regarding ferry funding will be implemented.
“We realize that there are many questions about how these changes will impact Ocracoke and we would like some additional time to prepare to discuss,” he said in an email.
In late June, the legislature passed next year’s budget, which includes an annual appropriation of $4 million to the Ferry Division for replacement vessels and a one-time grant of $6, which includes $3.65 million to match a federal grant received to implement a passenger ferry between the islands and the rest for ferry infrastructure repair.
More than 35 bills await McCrory’s signature, including the budget, and he has until midnight July 31 to sign or veto them. Bills not acted upon become law without his signature. News sources report that McCrory is out of town and expected back next Wednesday.
In addition, the recently released feasibility study on adding passenger-only service between Hatteras and Ocracoke also may be discussed.
The study is posted on the Ferry Division’s website, here, for the public to review.
For Ocracoke news, click here.
