Port of Anacortes commissioners approved a 2009 budget earlier this month that includes environmental cleanup projects, routine maintenance and facility upgrades — and takes a bit less in property taxes from most residents.
The port will collect the same amount of funds from taxpayers — $530,000 — this year as it did in 2008. But because the assessed property values in the port district are up some from last year, the millage rate is going down to $.084 per $1,000 of assessed value. It was $0.085 for 2008.
The owner of a $300,000 home will pay $25.20 for the year, 30 cents less than a year ago.
Budget changes by staff before the Nov. 6 vote included estimating permanent Cap Sante Boat Haven moorage rates increasing by 5 percent rather than 10 percent, and estimating $450,000 in revenues from the Ship Harbor property leased by Washington State Ferries rather than the approximate $600,000 in an earlier draft.
In all, the budget estimates $10.5 million in operating revenues and $5 million in operating expenses for 2009. Those numbers do not include depreciation or general and administrative allocation.
The budget directs funds to cleanup projects such as the former Scott Paper Mill site at Seafarers’ Memorial Park, a port-wide security surveillance system, replacement of the boat ramp at Wyman’s, fire suppression equipment at Warehouse 10, design and preconstruction of E and F docks replacement at the Boat Haven and public access improvements at the marina most likely in the form of a small craft launch at P dock.
The 2008 comprehensive plan update, which port staff has been working on with community members for about a year and a half, was also adopted by the commission.
The plan, which gives the port a 20-year vision of needed improvements and projects, puts a small boat center in the northeast corner of the Cap Sante Boat Haven on both city and port properties.
The completed project could include facilities for dinghies, rowing craft and smaller sailboats; areas designated for building, repairing, maintaining and storing small boats; and a small boat set-up and wash-down.
