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All aboard! Bob Buckhorn will back the CrossBay Ferry

The Tampa Mayor, considered the most skeptical of four public funders of the ferry, says he will recommend the City Council support the project at its July 26 meeting.
The Cross Bay Ferry, seen here docked at the St. Petersburg Museum of History on 335 Second Ave. NE, started operating in April 2016 and finished the trial run in November 2017.
The Cross Bay Ferry, seen here docked at the St. Petersburg Museum of History on 335 Second Ave. NE, started operating in April 2016 and finished the trial run in November 2017.
Published July 12, 2018|Updated July 12, 2018

What a difference a few days makes.

On Monday, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn was still pondering whether to kick in $150,000 toward a return of the CrossBay ferry in November.

Tampa is still finalizing a tight budget, made tighter by a $5 million deficit.

Buckhorn has been the fledgling ferry's biggest skeptic, saying the transit option, which has been largely a weekend recreation vehicle, should be able to make it on its own financial steam.

But Thursday, Buckhorn spokeswoman Ashley Bauman said the mayor has recommended that City Council approve the city's contribution at its July 26 meeting.

St. Petersburg City Council and the Hillsborough County Commission have already signed off. The Pinellas County Commission will consider the proposal on July 17.