Rogaland county council receives millions from the state to offer free ferry transport in the district, but in December it became clear that the county council will again charge motorists on the ferries. Earlier, Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård expressed that Rogaland County Council could get by now, but that it might be appropriate to consider the financing scheme if the money was not used for free ferries. The county council could demand ticket money, while at the same time getting funds to offer a free service. On the other hand, Local Government and District Minister Erling Sande (Sp) says, in a recent letter to Rogaland county council, that the county council may lose support if they charge drivers. If Rogaland county council nevertheless starts to take payment from passengers, it is not natural that the state should continue to compensate for lost ticket revenue. In such a case, the state will have to change the form of financing so that it is in line with the aim of the scheme. This can, for example, be done in connection with the processing of the revised national budget in the spring. So far, Rogaland county council has received NOK 8.9 million in 2022 and NOK 16.9 million in 2023. – It’s not natural that they get those funds – We want to give people and businesses along the coast a free ferry. We have followed that up with funds, but then we also expect those funds to go to exactly that, explains Sande. Municipal and District Minister Erling Sande (Sp). Photo: Nadir Mohammad Alam / news Although the funds were never earmarked, Sande emphasizes that the funds served as compensation for lost ticket revenue in the counties. – When the county council chooses not to offer a free ferry, it is also not natural that they get the funds, says Sande. – There are no counties other than Rogaland that have made a decision to depart from this national objective, explains Sande. Thinks the government is punishing Rogaland While Sande emphasizes that he expects support from the authorities to go to free ferries for everyone, county mayor Ole Ueland (H) interprets the letter somewhat differently: – I believe this to state that we have the opportunity to find a locally adapted arrangement, such which the county council in Rogaland has adopted. It doesn’t change anything now. If they later change the scheme, we have to deal with it. County mayor in Rogaland, Ole Ueland (H), believes the letter from the minister does not change anything as of now. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news Ueland believes the government is punishing Rogaland in the new revenue system for ferries next year. – Therefore, it cannot be avoided that there are route cuts, both on bus and boat. By charging for vehicles, the county council will be able to maintain routes and make it free for passengers on ferries, explains Ueland. – We think it is more important that the boat goes than that it has to be completely free. – If the Storting overrides us now, there will be consequences for the boating offer in Rogaland, and then it is the government’s responsibility. He believes that Rogaland has found a solution that can be lived with, and at the same time refers to a written answer Sande gave to the Storting on the same day as the letter was sent. KrF leader Olaug Bollestad believes that free ferries “are a good district issue” which she will prioritize nationally. Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth / news – In some places they have had to cut back on route production. We wanted to avoid that. This is a priority. Traces KrF exodus As part of the majority coalition in Rogaland County Council, it is KrF together with the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party and the Liberal Party who have decided that motorists must pay ferry tickets. KrF leader Olaug Bollestad tells news that she believes free ferries are a good district issue and will prioritize it nationally. That the county party sees it differently makes two former KrF mayors see red. – That KrF could do something like this puts us in a state of shock, says Kjell Nes, former KrF politician and mayor of Finnøy municipality. Finnøy is part of the island community in Ryfylke, which again has to pay for the ferry. Nes emphasizes that KrF has gone to the polls to keep the free ferry, and questions the party’s reliability. – If they still don’t understand the seriousness and turn around, there will be an exodus from KrF, claims Nes. Ole Olsen, former politician (KrF) and mayor of Kvitsøy, and general manager in Meling. Photo: Erik Waage Ole Olsen was a KrF politician and mayor of Kvitsøy from 2001 to 2011. Kvitsøy is one of Norway’s smallest municipalities, and is completely dependent on ferry traffic. – KrF people cannot live with this. After all, we voted for them. They do not keep what they have promised during the election. – The county council has now received a clear message from the government that it is changing the conditions. Now I have faith that the county council will change the decision, Olsen explains. – It’s a shame Anne Kristin Bruns is KrF group leader at the county council. She is happy that many people are getting involved in the matter, but at the same time she admits that the situation is challenging. – We want, and are for, a free ferry for everyone, but we have to make difficult priorities in this situation. It hurts, says Bruns. Anne Kristin Bruns is group leader for Rogaland KrF at the county council. Photo: Mathias Oppedal / news At the same time, she points out that the fast boat service has largely been maintained, even though this was something the county director wanted to cut during the negotiations. – We will spend many millions of kroner on a free ferry for passengers, as well as offer a noticeably reduced price for vehicles, says Bruns. Vebjørn Mathiesen Solli (Krf) is a member of the transport committee and the county council in Rogaland. Photo: Private – There has been a notification that the arrangement may change, but we do not know what the terms may be. If they change the funding scheme in the revised state budget, we will have to look at it then, says Vebjørn Mathiesen Solli (KrF). He is a member of the transport committee and the county council in Rogaland.
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Erling Sande says the state “must change the form of financing” after the end of the free ferry in Rogaland – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
