Port of Port Townsend finalizes next year’s budget

Focus on airport improvements, upgrades

PORT TOWNSEND — Port of Port Townsend commissioners have approved a 2024 operations and capital budget.

Commissioners Pam Petranek and Carol Hasse approved the budget Wednesday after minor discussion and no comment from anyone in person or online during the public hearing. Commissioner Pete Hanke was absent and excused from the meeting.

It was the fourth draft of the 2024 budget commissioners had reviewed.

Pushback from Jefferson County International Airport land leaseholders against a proposed 8-cent-per-square-foot monthly increase dominated public feedback at previous hearings. The rate schedule approved as part of the 2024 budget included a monthly increase of 7 cents per square foot — more than the 6.5-cent increase many tenants wanted, but less than an adjusted rate of 7.3 cents port staff had offered.

“Our fourth go-around is much easier than our first go-around and our second go-around and our third go-around,” Petranek said.

The port’s 2024 budget included total operating revenue of $8,355,132, a $7,480,100 or a 11.4 percent increase from the 2023 budget. Total operating expenses were budgeted at $7,093,094, which was $600,719 more than the 2023 budget. The port’s net operating income before depreciation and non-operating expenses was set to be $1,242,038, or $254,313 more than the 2023 budget — an increase of about 25 percent.

Most of the port’s revenue-generating operations like service and yard rates, slip, moorage and launch fees at Boat Haven, Point Hudson, Herb Beck Marina and airport facilities will see a 4.6 percent rate increases next year.

The 2024 budget included $1,134,000 in revenue from the general property tax levy. The amount reflected a 1 percent increase over the 2023 levy approved by commissioners and a 1 percent increase levied on new construction and collected by the Jefferson County Assessor’s Office.

The port would collect $2,634,289 from the Industrial Development District tax levy that would be invested in capital projects.

Funding for a capital budget of $11,640,000 included a mix of grants, general and IDD levies, port reserves and operating income.

Among the 28 capital projects planned for 2024 are repair of the breakwater and a stormwater treatment upgrade at Boat Haven; construction of a new terminal at the airport; completion of the Point Hudson jetty construction project; replacement of the boat launches in Gardiner at Herb Beck Marina; vehicle and equipment purchases; and repaving of various port-owned properties.

Also in the capital budget is $450,000 for design, engineering and permitting for the JCIA Eco-Industrial Park. Executive Director Eron Berg said when a feasibility study for the project was conducted in 2011, there had not been much of a demand for such a facility.

That has changed, however.

“There’s renewed interest in the county for industrial land,” Berg said. “It’s an old idea that the time is right for.”

The study outlined development of a light industrial park on port-owned land next to the airport that incorporates low-impact design technologies to control storm water, resource-efficient construction, limited impervious surfaces, a green buffer around the perimeter of the site and native tree and plant landscaping. The industrial park would be marketed to tenants that produce environmentally friendly products and services.

While some elements of the study concept would need to be reworked, Petranek and Hasse said they liked its focus on sustainable design and that it gave the port the ability to develop a new revenue stream.

“I agree this should happen,” Hasse said. “We need space to grow our local businesses, not to mention who else might want to come in.”

Petranek asked Berg when the project might be completed if everything went according to plan. He estimated it could be ready sometime in 2026, depending on the port’s ability to obtain funding.

Capital Projects Director Matt Klontz said runway 9/27 and the parallel taxiway at the airport would be closed Nov. 15-16 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for paving and striping associated with construction of the connector taxiway. The runway and the parallel taxiway would be reopened at night between 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

________

Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Two people were displaced after a house fire in the 4700 block of West Valley Road in Chimacum on Thursday. No injuries were reported. (East Jefferson Fire Rescue)
Two displaced after Chimacum house fire

One person evacuated safely along with two pets from a… Continue reading

A Port Angeles city worker places a tree topper on the city’s Christmas tree, located at the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain at the intersection of Laurel and First streets. A holiday street party is scheduled to take place in downtown Port Angeles from noon to 7 p.m. Nov. 30 with the tree lighting scheduled for about 5 p.m. (Emma Maple/Peninsula Daily News)
Top of the town

A Port Angeles city worker places a tree topper on the city’s… Continue reading

Hospital board passes budget

OMC projecting a $2.9 million deficit

Lighthouse keeper Mel Carter next to the original 1879 Fresnel lens in the lamp room at the Point Wilson Lighthouse. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Donations to aid pediatrics clinic, workforce

Recipients thank donors at hospital commissioners’ meeting

Whitefeather Way intersection closed at Highway 101

Construction crews have closed the intersection of Whitefeather Way and… Continue reading

EYE ON THE PENINSULA: Commissioners to consider levies, budgets

Meetings across the North Olympic Peninsula

Highway 112 partially reopens to single-lane traffic

Maintenance crews have reopened state Highway 112 between Sekiu… Continue reading

Laken Folsom, a Winter Ice Village employee, tries to remove leaves that blew in from this week’s wind storm before they freeze into the surface of the rink on Thursday. The Winter Ice Village, operated by the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce in the 100 block of West Front Street, opens today and runs through Jan. 5. Hours are from noon to 9 p.m. daily. New this year is camera showing the current ice village conditions at www.skatecam.org. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Ice village opens in Port Angeles

Laken Folsom, a Winter Ice Village employee, tries to remove leaves that… Continue reading

Fort PDA receiver protecting assets

Principal: New revenue streams needed

Ella Biss, 4, sits next to her adoptive mother, Alexis Biss, as they wait in Clallam County Family Court on Thursday for the commencement of the ceremony that will formalize the adoption of Ella and her 9-year-old brother John. (Emma Maple/Peninsula Daily News)
Adoption ceremony highlights need for Peninsula foster families

State department says there’s a lack of foster homes for older children, babies

Legislature to decide fate of miscalculation

Peninsula College may have to repay $339K