the official blog of the evergreen freedom foundation

State Ferry Worker Travel Pay Getting Some More Attention

Posted by Brett Davis - March 12, 2010

Not to toot our own horn—well, okay, we’re tooting it a little bit—but thanks to the Evergreen Freedom Foundation’s work on excessive mileage reimbursement rates/travel benefits of some Washington State Ferry employees, the issue is getting some scrutiny from the media and the Legislature. As far as we know, we’re the private watchdog group—it actually says “groups”—referenced in one of the stories linked below.
 

As it turns out, the situation is actually worse than we thought because the data we received included time reimbursements as part of the salary. In the case of the individual in the King 5 News story (see below) who claimed more than $22,000 in mileage reimbursements, his salary was actually only $60,000, but he claimed $72,950 in travel time reimbursements.

Anyway, check out the following stories for more detailed information on how some WSF employees are upping their pay by driving long distances to and from work, as well as proposed legislation to stop the practice:
 

Everett Herald: Lawmakers Act to Roll Back State Ferry Workers’ Travel Perk

 

King 5 News: Investigators: Ferry Workers Boost Pay by Driving to Work

 

Everett Herald: Waste Alleged in Ferry System

 

Tacoma News Tribune: Bill Would Curtail Travel Money for Ferry Workers
 

 

Our looking into this issue has raised the ire of some state ferry employees, but it’s your tax dollars in question, so you have every right to know how the state is spending public funds.

Thoughts?   Add Comment -

dale said on Mar 13 2010 at 11:40am
Finally! Let us hope that this is just the beginning of action to clean up the waste and fraud that has been the norm of the ferry system for years. Many thanks to EFF.

Mathew C. Martin said on Mar 13 2010 at 1:39pm
I've got an idea... GPS on all government vehicles with tracking software to ensure the logs gibe. I watched a King County Housing Authority employee take a 1.5 hour lunch break, reading the newspaper at the park. Did a Public Records request and his lunch actually didn't start until he left the park! Unbelievable... I've got video from the Sheriff Dept. to back this up. KCHA says they'll take care of it.... Sure they will.

A Lurker said on Mar 14 2010 at 10:35am
a) Good work

b) Good choice of pic of Island Home - East Coast edition. I hear the Island Home/Kwa-di Tabil class boats are going to be controversial for years to come...

c) Speaking of them - check this out of the MV Chetzemoka: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/4404422875/in/set-72157604552389810/

Cheers!