Islanders brought complaints and recommendations to the Steamship Authority finance officials who were on the Vineyard last week to talk about the proposed budget and potential rate increases.

Boat line treasurer Mark Rozum and assistant treasurer Courtney Oliveira spoke to an audience of about 20 residents at the Tisbury Senior Center on Oct. 22. All were concerned about rate hikes at a time when the Steamship’s service has been plagued with staffing shortages and cancellations.

To make up for a projected $3.4 million budget shortfall next year, the Steamship Authority has proposed to raise rates on passenger tickets, non-Islander vehicles and on parking.

Rising costs, including a projected $7 million increase in payroll and $1.3 million jump in technology, are expected when revenue from vehicles is falling, Mr. Rozum and Ms. Oliveira told the audience.

Steamship treasurer Mark Rozum, right, listens to the crowd with assistant treasurer Courtney Oliveira.

Ray Ewing

Steamship treasurer Mark Rozum, right, listens to the crowd with assistant treasurer Courtney Oliveira.

Ray Ewing

The shortage of licensed deck officers came up often at the meeting, with Islanders wondering why there wasn’t more done to recruit in the past and the present.

“Nobody seems to be spending any time making it attractive to go work at the Steamship Authority,” said Clarence (Trip) Barnes. 

The boat line said it has been going to maritime academies across the country to try and entice cadets to come work on the Cape and Islands, and Joe Sollitto, the Oak Bluffs member of the Steamship’s advisory port council, said he has looked into potential scholarship programs.

“We’re trying to develop that path,” he said.

Many complaints from Islanders extended past the budget itself into operations and management decisions. Some questioned why the Steamship hadn’t been more proactive with filling jobs in the wave of captain retirements. Others expressed frustration with the reservation system seemingly telling travelers that there is no space on boats. Several people wanted to see the new Woods Hole terminal construction scuttled in hopes of keeping a smaller ticket office.

“The operational is so broken, that to raise all the rates on everything is going to come off as just horrible,” said Amelie Loyot, an Oak Bluffs business owner.

Rachel Baumrin, of West Tisbury, feared that raising rates to make up for a budget shortfall could reach a tipping point and actually lose the Steamship money because tourists may search for cheaper options. 

“My initial gut reaction to say why it’s projected to be down is because it’s too expensive,” she said. “If it was slightly less expensive to come here, not only would more people come, but all of us business owners will also appreciate the fact that people have more discretionary money to spend in our stores, in our restaurants, in our businesses, in our hotels.” 

About 20 people attended the meeting at the Tisbury Senior Center.

Ray Ewing

About 20 people attended the meeting at the Tisbury Senior Center.

Ray Ewing

Some suggestions came out of the meeting, including increasing days when standby is allowed or giving year-round Islanders a discount on parking permits in the Steamship’s Falmouth parking lot. 

Perry Moehnke, an airplane pilot from West Tisbury, commutes off-Island weekly and keeps a vehicle in the Palmer avenue parking lot. He felt it was unfair that he was going to see a rise in the price for passenger tickets, as well as for the parking permit. 

“I feel that I’m kind of taking it in the shorts,” he said. “I’m getting penalized for living here.” 

Mr. Moehnke suggested looking at a lower parking cost for people who qualify for excursion vehicle rates. 

After about two hours of discussion, Mr. Rozum said he would bring the sentiments from the Vineyard back to Steamship staff so they could take it into consideration as budget talks continue.

“We appreciate your feedback,” he said. “We’re going to be vetting all of these.”