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| The Port of Anacortes is about to approve
their 2007 Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Plan.
From my review of the proposed
budget and my viewing of the Port meetings, these seem to be the issues:
Accounting for Ship Harbor Sale
-
The Port had significant expense in the sale of the Ship Harbor
property (approx. $300,000). This expense was funded from the
general fund. The issue being discussed by the commission is
whether or not the net sale proceeds of the Ship Harbor property
should be placed in the surplus property proceeds account or do you
deposit the gross sale amount? What's the difference? By
placing the gross amount in the property account, we are effectively
moving unrestricted general fund money into a restricted account.
By doing so, this money can only be used for property acquisition.
Since the general fund can be used for many purposes, including property acquisition,
why do we want to restrict it? From the Port meeting
discussions, it appears Hopley and Niver want to net the Ship Harbor
proceeds for the selling expenses, while Rubin, Short & Mooney want
to deposit the gross receipts.
Click Here to view portion of
Port Meeting where this was discussed.
Policy Change to Build Tax Fund
- The budget proposal projects an increase of the Year End Balance
of the Property Tax Fund from $341,000 in 2007 to $1.1 million by
2011. This is an issue for a couple of the commissioner's
since they felt they made a commitment to maintain a fund
balance of around $200,000. A year ago (in the 2006 Budget),
the Port made a decision to raise the tax level in order to pay for
the new boat launch facility. Annual tax collections went from
$450,000 to $610,000 in 2006 (a 38% increase). Instead of reducing tax
collections in the 2007 budget (as promised), it appears 3
commissioners (Rubin, Short & Mooney) want to continue taxing at
a higher level ($622,000) to build funds for future
acquisitions. Niver & Hopley believe the tax levy should be lowered.
Click Here to view
portion of Port Meeting where this was discussed.
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Port Meeting November 14, 2006 @ 7:00 PM
The Port Commission will meet on
Tuesday night, November 14 to take public comment on the budget and they
will likely vote on approving the budget that night as well.
If you have an opinion, but can't
make the meeting, click here. |
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Related Letters:
A Port
Commissioner is not satisfied with raising our taxes and writes letter
to the editor.
Letter from Terry
Christiansen to Port Commissioners
Letter to
Port from Steve Wilhoit - Concerned Citizen
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|
View
Segments of Port Meeting where the above issues were discussed:
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| The
information below is an analysis of the current budget proposal with
prior year budgets. |
|
 | Tax levy was flat, collecting $450,000 from residents 2005 -
2009 |
| Ending Cash Balance of Tax fund declines to $377,880 |
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| Top |
|
| Tax levy was increased in 2006, but was reduced to $450,000
beginning in 2007. |
| Ending Cash Balance for 2010 increased slightly to $558,395 |
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| Top
| Tax Levy of $622,000 for years 2007 to 2011 |
| Ending Cash Balance for Tax Fund in 2010 is $919,744, 112%
higher than the 2006 forecast for same year. |
| 2011 Ending Cash Balance is forecasted to be $1.1 million. |
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| Top |
|
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Cumulative comparison of tax levy for 5 years of 2006 & 2007
budgets shows 2007 budget collecting $3.1 million over 5 years
versus the $2.2 million projected in the 2006 budget. An
increase of 38%. |
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| Top
| A comparison of the three budgets (2005, 2006 & 2007) shows the
2007 budget with a significant increase in the projected cash
balance of the Tax Fund. |
| What changed from 2006 to 2007 that necessitated this increase? |
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| Top |
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Contacting the Port
Port Commissioners
|
Name
|
Current Office
|
Phone |
Position No.
|
Term Expires |
|
Steve Hopley |
Commissioner
|
766-6823 |
3 |
12/31/07 |
|
Pat D. Mooney |
Commissioner |
293-3260 |
4 |
12/31/07
|
|
Ray Niver
|
Commissioner
|
299-0306 |
1 |
12/31/09 |
|
Keith Rubin |
Commissioner
|
588-6097 |
5 |
12/31/09 |
|
Bill Short
|
Commissioner |
293-8844 |
2 |
12/31/09 |
If you can’t attend,
public comments can be entered into the record by sending them to:
Executive Director-Bob
Hyde
hyde@portofanacortes.com
Top The
sources for the above analysis are the Cash Flow Summaries of the 2006
Budget and 2007 Proposed Budget. You can view these documents
here:
2006 Budget
2007 Proposed Budget If you have questions or
comments about the information presented, please send an email to
info@fhog.org |
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The Port of Anacortes has some information posted on
their website regarding the budget.
View
it here |
