Ferry fares will rise 2.5 percent on Jan. 1 after all, says Washington State Ferries. Attorney General Rob McKenna’s office has stated that the fare increase is valid because it was enacted before initiative 1053, which requires all fare increases to be approved by the legislature.

After that, much is up in the air. Governor Christine Gregoire has indicated plans to increase ferry fares further with another 10 percent increase in her proposed 2011 budget. But the attorney general’s office has advised in an informal opinion (solicited by senator Pam Roach, R-Auburn) that the non-elected Fare Advisory Committee that has set fares in past years no longer has the authority to do so on its own. Due to I-1053, all future fare increases must be approved by a majority legislative vote.

The plot thickens:

Senate Transportation Chairwoman Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, has said the legislature has “too many other things that are more important to do” than “hassling over” ferry fares, and that when the Jan. 10 legislative session begins she plans to restore fare-setting authority to the commission, according to the Kitsap Sun. Roach responded by calling the plan “disingenuous” and “counter to the will of the voters” in a Dec. 21 press release.

It is not clear at this point which entity will retain fare-setting authority. The senators did not immediately return Sounder queries. Tim Eyman, who sponsored the initiative, said he strongly opposes Haugen’s plan. He said those who set fares should be accountable to citizens for their decisions through the re-election process.

In the meantime, Washington State Ferries has announced that it will proceed with the scheduled Jan. 1 fare increases.

For more background, see the Sounder’s earlier article on this issue.