Make port assets work for everybody

The Port of Olympia loses millions every year and has for at least two decades despite the $5M annual tax levied on Thurston property owners to subsidize their $11M operating budget. Known bond debt is about $50M, but the port will not divulge the true total which could be $65M or more. This public subsidy of affluent private businesses and individuals is done in the name of “economic development.” The port touts “studies” claiming fantastic “direct and indirect” benefits trickling-down to taxpayers while completely ignoring real economic and environmental costs.

This mismanagement costs ordinary people untold losses from missed opportunities for port businesses that could materially improve our own quality of life.

Imagine a port that used some of its 1,650 acres for a solar farm supplying electricity to Thurston residents and replacing PSE’s coal-generated electricity.

Thurston residents might someday benefit from a port cable and TV service alternative to Comcast. WiFi could be provided in Thurston County as a port service to residents who now get nothing of value from their tax dollars subsidizing the port.

Our farmers could add value to their products with a port food processing hub, a refrigeration unit at the port-owned market, or perhaps a grain mill or USDA approved humane as possible slaughterhouse.

Imagine a healthy Budd Inlet with its estuaries and habitats restored.

Voters have a clear choice this November: to continue the port status quo, or to choose the transformative leadership opportunity offered by electing Bill Fishburn and Commissioner EJ Zita.

This story was originally published September 6, 2017 at 12:45 PM with the headline "Make port assets work for everybody."