Budgets 2017: Longview, Seattle

Longview Budget Focuses on Infrastructure Improvement, Brings Tax Reductions for Port District Residents

Port Longview’s 2017 general fund operating budget is $36.5 million and the capital projects budget is $3.8 million. The latter includes an $815,000 investment in the port’s Industrial Rail Corridor.

It also includes a 20 percent reduction in the port tax levy.

"The port is in a healthy financial position," said Commission President Bob Bagaason. "Strong cargo operations and business partnerships are allowing the port to reduce property taxes. My fellow commissioners and I want to share this success with our community."

The budget goes into effect January 1, 2017. For details, go to http://www.portoflongview.com/AboutThePort.

Seattle: 2017 Port Budget Includes $650 Million for Capital Improvements

The Port of Seattle Commission has approved a 2017 budget with $1.4 billion in expenditures designed to meet the region’s demand for port services. The budget also aims to return the benefits of growth to the community through significant environmental and economic development initiatives, particularly those focused on reducing carbon emissions, improving quality of life in communities near the airport, and connecting more people to port-related careers.

The port forecasts cruise passenger traffic will top a million in 2017 for the first ever, beating this year’s count by 8.8 percent. It also forecasts a record 48 million passengers will fly through Sea-Tac Airport in 2017.

The commission authorized more than $45 million in environmental initiatives and projects that:

• Encourage more people to use light-rail to get to and from the airport
• Increase the number of electric vehicle charging stations at Sea-Tac
  
• Offer more sound insulation to neighbors around the airport
  
• Protect water quality through expanded storm water management
  
• Create a $1 million fund to implement the Energy and Sustainability Committee policy directives
  
• Designate another $1 million for community ecological projects.
  

Other highlights of the 2017 budget:

• $16.5 million to enhance safety and security, and another $4.2 million to improve customer service, for passengers at Sea-Tac Airport
  
• $3.9 million in workforce development programs to provide more internships and job-training programs, and to investigate a new skill center
  
• $1.7 million to promote, support and expand a number of tourism initiatives for the region
  
• $1 million in grants to cities in King County to support economic development initiatives
  

"While the economy might seem unstoppable, there are fundamental challenges for our region around meeting the demand on port facilities, training the next generation of skilled workers and maintaining a strong and diverse job base while protecting our natural environment," said Port Commission President John Creighton.

Support for projects needed to accommodate growth is built into the budget, including expansion of the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal, modernization of the airport’s North Satellite and baggage system, and the construction of a new Sea-Tac International Arrivals Facility. The capital budget totals more than $650 million for 2017 and $2.7 billion for the next five years.

"This is a budget that reflects our sense of urgency and desire to speed the delivery of projects and programs to meet traveler growth at the airport and in our cruise business, and to sustain diverse economic development," said Port CEO Ted Fick.

Demand for air passenger and cargo service at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, as well as a record season in the cruise business, created additional revenue that is being reinvested in the port’s levy fund. The annual levy paid by King County taxpayers will be reduced from $85 in 2016 to $77 in 2017 for the typical single-family homeowner.

Despite increased property values, the levy has gradually declined in recent years, from $75.9 million in 2008 to $72 million in 2017.

See the 2017 budget.