Port of Olympia’s tax subsidy needs reducing

One of the major issues about the operation of the port of Olympia is the port’s tax subsidy. Last year the port taxed and collected from the Thurston County public $4.6 million. When I was on the port commission in 1990 the tax subsidy was $1.7 million. Where does all this money go? Why is it needed?

The port has a thriving marina, a break-even airport, health land leasing program and ships coming to the port docks regularly.

Candidates for the port should be telling the public where they stand on a tax subsidy. Would any of the candidates promise to put into the port’s strategic plan the goal of eliminating the tax subsidy and making the port self-sufficient? I just don’t understand why the port year after year needs to collect so much money from the taxpayer.

In the up-and-coming election I’m voting for the candidate who is willing to reduce the tax subsidy and eventually end it. The port needs to become self-sufficient.

This story was originally published September 14, 2015 at 9:22 AM with the headline "Port of Olympia’s tax subsidy needs reducing."