Port of Grapeview presents its 2025 budget

The Port of Grapeview’s 2025 Operating & Capital Constriction Budgets were finalized at the Nov. 19 meeting, minus $40,000 in county funding.

Commissioner Jean Farmer said the port didn’t get requested $40,000 in .09 money from the county commissioners, which comes from county sales tax.

“We will have to ask for a levy increase,” she said.

The money is needed to maintain the port’s facilities.

Farmer said she would continue to look for grants.

The port’s draft budget included the proposed $40,000 in estimated 2025 operating revenue of $236,788.09. Total estimated expenses for 2025 are $95,422 with expenses including reserves at $236,788.09.

Commissioners approved an increase in the regular property tax levy in 2025 for $29,160.79, a 2.137 % increase from the previous year’s actual levy amount, but a 1% increase from the year’s actual levy limit, according to Commissioner Mike Blaisdell.

Also approved was a 2025 industrial development property tax levy for $124,024.43, which is an increase of 2.74 % from 2024, Blaisdell said.

Commissioners also approved amending the Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements to add a new goal of focusing on workforce development.

“The Washington Public Ports Association recommends that each year when adopting the capital budget, the port also amend the CSHI to reflect that budget,” Blaisdell said.

Workforce development will be “a strategic goal, emphasizing investment in capital projects that promote job training, education, skills development and partnerships to build a strong local workforce for the maritime industry,” according to the goal.

The port has discussed working with former Case Inlet Fisheries Task Force members, who are installing a salmon net pen at Fair Harbor Marina. North Mason School District plans to use the pen to teach students aquaculture as part of a pathway for working in natural resource management.

Conservation group seeks partnership

Forterra NW, a land trust based in Seattle, acquired land across from the Port of Grapeview and hopes to work with commissioners to seek grant funding.

“It would be an opportunity for us to collaborate and its seems like you all have experience going through some of these processes,” Senior Project Manager Jake Cassidy said.

“We’re in the very beginning phases. We’ve talked to the landowner and signed a contract,” he told commissioners.

Cassidy spoke about connecting to a water trail that passes through Case Inlet. Kayakers or canoers on the trail could use the Forterra property, which sits across Case Inlet, south of the port, as an overnight camping spot, Cassidy said.

Users could make a loop through the Port of Grapeview and down into Dutcher Cove, south of Vaughn, he said.

Farmer suggested users could start from the port’s kayak launch.

Commissioner Art Whitson agreed.

“I look at the port as being a logistics center for that activity,” he said.

Whitson said he enjoys long-distance canoeing and kayaking.

“You have to have a network of places to camp,” he said.

Blaisdell said it would be a great way to get people to visit the port’s facilities and he would like to see what Forterra does with the property and how the port can fit in.

The Stretch Point Marine State Park sees a lot of use and “this would add to that area,” Farmer said.