PORT TOWNSEND — Port of Port Townsend commissioners added four new staff positions to support a growing shipyard industry when they approved a $5.79 million 2007 budget on Wednesday.
The Port commissioners also boosted rates and fees across the board, from moorage to shipyard fees, to help generate a net income of $649,350 for 2007, an increase of $166,000, or 34 percent, above 2006.
The new budget represents a more than $1 million increase over that of 2005.
No one spoke during a routine budget hearing Wednesday afternoon before the Port commissioners.
The new hires will take the Port staff to 29 permanent positions and three summer jobs.
Recently, Port Commissioner Bob Sokol said, “We need more people because of the increase in business there.”
Staff additions are an environmental/safety position, a new laborer or hoist operator in the work and ship yard operations, and two port security officer positions.
A seasonal groundskeeper position is also proposed for Jefferson County International Airport.
The Port commissioners also approved a 2.6 percent consumer price index-based cost of living increase for employees.
The Port’s draft 2007 operating budget forecasts $1.07 million in additional operating revenue over the 2006 budget, said Don Taylor, director of finance and administration.
That is an increase of 28.5 percent over a year ago.
Taylor attributed the boost to the Port purchasing the Port Townsend Industrial Park buildings, formerly owned by builder-developer Bill Sperry.
In May, the Port also resumed control of Herb Beck Marina and Industrial Park in Quilcene, which had been leased to the private sector.
The new industrial park revenue is expected to add $181,000 in Port revenues while the Quilcene operation addition will add $106,000 in 2007, Taylor said.
The largest increase in Port revenues comes from the workyard, where all revenue sources are running “well ahead” of the budget this year, Taylor reported.
He said a $432,000 increase in gross operating revenues is forecast for the yard in 2007.
