Councilmember Jean Godden
SEATTLE CITY COUNCILMEMBER JEAN GODDEN COMMENTS ON PASSAGE OF ALASKA CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER FEE
SEATTLE –Today, Alaskan voters appear to have approved a ballot measure imposing a $50 fee for cruise ship passengers visiting the state.
“It’s certainly interesting to see that Alaskan voters believe cruise ships have an impact in their community and are willing to vote to adopt this initiative to help address those impacts,” said Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden.
“The initiative is something we’ve been watching and will continue to examine it as is implemented,” Godden said.
Councilmember Godden is studying the idea of a local marine passenger fee that could generate millions to help support Seattle’s waterfront redevelopment. She is currently examining the initiative to see how a similar one might be implemented here.
The Alaskan measure would impose a $46 excise tax per passenger, per voyage and a $4 fee to pay for “ocean rangers” on board each ship to monitor pollution controls. In addition, the measure would tax a third of the ships’ gambling proceeds, require cruise lines pay corporate income taxes and require they get state pollution discharge permits for the ships’ wastewater.
Other cities in Alaska such as Juneau and Ketchikan have similar marine passenger fees already in place that charge $7 per passenger. Funds from these fees have been used to support improvements to dock facilities, shore power infrastructure, traffic signals, crossing guards, bus services, parking facilities and visitor information services.
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