FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Carolyn Casey
October 28, 2005 Port of Bellingham
(360) 676-2500
Port Releases Draft 2006 Budget
Property Tax Rate and Staffing to Remain Level
[Bellingham, Wash.] The Port of Bellingham published its draft 2006 Strategic Budget today, projecting a 3 percent growth in operating revenues and no increase in the Port’s portion of the property tax rate. Although the Port will add a new portwide security and disaster preparedness position, its overall number of staff will remain at 85.5 full- time positions.[Bellingham, Wash.] The Port of Bellingham published its draft 2006 Strategic Budget today, projecting a 3 percent growth in operating revenues and no increase in the Port’s portion of the property tax rate. Although the Port will add a new portwide security and disaster preparedness position, its overall number of staff will remain at 85.5 full- time positions.
The entire draft Strategic Budget, which includes the budget and the Port’s strategic goals, is available on the web. A printed summary budget is available at the Port Administrative Offices, 1801 Roeder Avenue. A budget presentation and public hearing on the budget will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 1) during the Port Commission’s regular meeting. A second public hearing on the budget will be at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 15. Both hearings will be in the Harbor Center Conference Room in the Port Administrative Offices.
The 2006 draft Strategic Budget anticipates the Port total revenue sources to be $30.5 million, including $5.9 million in property taxes. The Port anticipates doing $6.2 million in capital projects in 2006. Some of these are the completion of projects already underway. Among the new capital projects proposed to begin in 2006 are the purchase and development of the National Guard site at the Bellingham International Airport, rebuilding a portion of the outer docks on Gate 3 at Squalicum Harbor, reconstruction of taxiways at the airport and continued development of the promenade at Squalicum Harbor. The largest project that will begin in 2006 is the environmental cleanup of the Whatcom Waterway and the treatment lagoon. These cleanups will take several years to move from review and permitting to construction.
The Strategic Budget also proposes Key 2006 Strategic Goals as well as Change Goals in various Port programs.
The proposed Key 2006 Strategic Goals are:
Assemble and organize resources to complete the strategic planning for Bellingham’s waterfront and initiate development. This includes seeing through regulatory changes, securing ‘early action’ public and private investments and preparing to engage the private sector market for sustained interest in the project.
Secure additional air passenger options for the traveling public.
Identify and take action on developing a new job creation project in an area of the County not already served by Port developments.
Secure private investment into Blaine and Bellwether properties.
Acquire and begin to develop the Washington Air National Guard site at the Airport.
Complete transition to a newly organized security function within the Port that also encompasses emergency preparedness and risk abatement.
Complete design and permitting of Gate 3 Squalicum Marina project and begin this improvement project.
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