Port approves budget with operating losses

Port of Whitman commissioners Monday adopted a $2,960,600 budget for 2010 that will need tax receipts to offset operating expenses for the second time this decade.

The port’s 2010 budget is down four percent from the $3,092,500 2009 budget. Biggest reason for the drop is lower lease revenues.

Port officials expect vacancies in port buildings to drop revenue by $130,000.

That will push operating receipts down to $899,000, while operating expenses are expected to total $1,030,000.

The gap will be covered out of the port’s tax levy income, which will be $1,040,000, up $30,000 from this year’s levy. The port normally follows a policy of using tax income funds for capital expenses and reserves.

Commissioners also froze employee wages and will not increase the agency’s contribution to employee benefits.

No changes were made from the proposed budget that was available for review for the past two weeks, and no citizens attended the hearing.