FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2006 For More Information:
Carolyn Casey, 360-676-2500 Port of Bellingham Releases Draft 2007 Budget
[Bellingham, Wash.] Meeting increasing airport demand, moving ahead on the Bellingham waterfront redevelopment and planning for future redevelopment in Blaine are major focuses in the Port of Bellingham’s Draft 2007 Strategic Budget.
The Port released its budget today and it can be reviewed online at or people can get copies of the summary budget and cds of the full budget at the Port’s main administrative office, 1801 Roeder Avenue during regular business hours.
The Port’s Board of Commissioners will review the draft document and conduct a public hearing on it at their regular commission meeting at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 7 and Tuesday November 21 in the Harbor Center Conference Room, in the administrative office building. The Commission is scheduled to vote on the budget at its November 21 meeting.
“The Port staff have worked hard to present a budget that addresses the financial commitments related to achieving the Port Commission’s stated Strategic Goals for 2007,” said John Carter, the Port’s Chief Financial Officer.
The proposed budget projects $36.6 million in 2007 expenditures.
About $7 million of capital improvements and expansion at the commercial aviation Bellingham International Airport and the general aviation properties are anticipated in 2007, according to the draft budget. This includes parking expansion, design of a new fire/rescue station, construction of a commercial air ramp and construction of a temporary terminal, which will allow another air carrier to operate in Bellingham. A great deal of the $7 million expense will be paid through 95 percent grants from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The waterfront redevelopment project costs are anticipated to be $6.3 million in 2007. Of that total, about two thirds will be reimbursed to the Port from grants, the ports environmental cost cap insurance and other sources.
The draft budget projects no increase in staffing and anticipates keeping the Port’s portion of the countywide property tax at the same rate as 2006.
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