Port of Tacoma will continue budget discussions

Port of Tacoma commissioners are scheduled Thursday to consider the Port’s 2010 budget, cargo forecast, finance plan and tax levy.

The Nov. 12 meeting will include a more in-depth look at cargo forecasts, capital building plans, tax levy and the 2010 budget. Commissioners will invite public comment at this noon meeting.

The first budget meeting on Nov. 5 included a preliminary look at the 2010 capital plans, revenue projections, tax levy and finance plans. Presentation materials from that meeting are available on the Port’s Web site at http://www.portoftacoma.com/budget .

The final meeting Nov. 23 is a special public hearing to formally adopt the 2010 statutory budget and tax levy.

All three meetings are in The Fabulich Center, Room 104, at 3600 Port of Tacoma Rd. in Tacoma. The public is encouraged to attend. Meetings also are streamed live from the Port’s Web site at http://www.portoftacoma.com/webstreaming and are later broadcast on Click! and Comcast throughout Pierce County.

These public budget meetings build upon the five Port 101 workshops held around Pierce County this summer and fall. Citizens who attended workshops in Steilacoom, Gig Harbor, Fife, Sumner and Spanaway learned about the Port’s history, mission, future plans and financial structure. A video of the workshop presentation is available on the Port Web site at http://www.portoftacoma.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=22 .