Port of Allyn approves its 2025 budget

Port of Allyn commissioners approved the 2025 budget at their Oct. 7 meeting, laying the groundwork for a better year.

“2024 was just a year of surviving,” Erin Civilla, the port’s accountant, said, adding 2025 “is going to be good.”

Executive Director Lary Coppola died Sept. 30, 2023, a few weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

LeAnn Dennis replaced Coppola and died suddenly on Christmas Day in 2023.

Travis Merrill, now the port’s executive director, quickly took over administrative duties. Over the next months, Merrill attempted to get the port’s finances in order. He was unable to ask his predecessors for clarification on paperwork, receipts, contracts and other business matters, something he and commissioners discussed in numerous regular meetings.

“All of our books have been reconciled,” Merrill said before Commissioners Judy Scott and Michael Curtain voted to adopt the final operating budget.

Commissioner John Sheridan was unable to attend the meeting, Scott said.

The general fund revenue for 2025 is projected to be $531,886 with an end-of-year balance of $38,420.64, according to the approved budget.

The water fund projected revenue for 2025 is $526,774.11 with an end-of-year balance of $101,507.75, the document states.

Scott said she appreciated everyone who gave their “thoughts and opinions” on the budget.

During public comments, Brad Carey, who previously sued the port for alleged violations of Washington’s Public Records Act, Open Public Meetings Act and related claims, suggested an independent forensic audit.

“We know that there’s money that’s missing. We know there’s money that’s been spent or commingled between the general fund and the water fund. With regard to this budget here, there’s no footnote to identify that there is a discrepancy or something that’s going to be worked out,” Carey said.

“I’ve yet to see any public discussion or board discussion on what the plan is for identifying those monies that are missing,” he said.

Civilla said there was no money missing.

“There was no misappropriation of funds. There was no money that was spent that shouldn’t have been” she said.

Scott agreed.

“We did look through everything and there really wasn’t anything inappropriate,” Scott said.

There was “too much spending,” she said, but it wasn’t “inappropriate spending.”

Some previous budgeting errors may have been due to Coppola’s health, according to Scott.

“Lary was very ill and we did not know how ill he was,” she said.

“He was not able to do everything that he needed to pay attention to. I don’t think that there was anything that was devious or illegal or anything like that,” she said.

“There were just a few errors along the way that are fixable,” Civilla said.

More levy money

Commissioners also adopted an increase of the property tax levy for 2025.

The 1% increase, based on last year’s $321,250.64, is the highest lawful levy, according to the resolution, and will earn the port $3,201.26.

“That extra additional $3,000 will certainly help,” Scott said.

Another abandoned vessel at Belfair dock

Another vessel has been left at the port’s dock without payment, Merrill said.

The 32-foot sailboat showed up at the North Shore property Oct. 4.

It had been in the harbor for the past month, Merrill said.

“Now it’s just attached to our dock.”

He said the boat is “not in great shape,” and he will be posting a derelict vessel notice.

A problem vessel has been at the Allyn dock since September. At last month’s meeting, Merrill said the owner had made small payments but stopped communicating. Fees of $48 a day are accruing.

Merrill gave an update on the vessel saying it’s now in port custody.

“Once custody was obtained, I boarded the vessel. There’re engine parts strewn throughout the cabin. We don’t allow repairs at our berth,” he said.

A 45-day appeal process has started, he said.