To the editor:

Earlier this week the Port of South Whidbey reached a milestone in its marina expansion project. After months of public workshops and meetings we commissioners have agreed on a plan that we hope will benefit our entire community and will help keep South Whidbey a great place to live and visit.

Many businesses on South Whidbey rely heavily on visitors coming to our area to experience the grace and beauty of our island; hopefully as they are enjoying themselves, they will spend money at our local businesses. These new dollars will then be re-spent here by merchants and employees, which will further enhance our economic well-being.

The expanded harbor plan also enables local dollars currently being spent in other communities to stay in the local economy. With no local permanent moorage space available, many South Whidbey boat owners currently moor their vessels in other communities. Every month those lease payments go to other marinas which takes money out of our local economy. The newly approved plan is estimated to have a total positive impact of over $2 million per year for the local economy, of which more than $1.5 million will come directly from the purchases of goods and services here.

The commission has been concerned about the effect rising fuel prices are having on the boating public. We expect to see boaters in the Puget Sound region seeking destinations closer to home. While South Whidbey is an enticing destination, visiting by boat has been hampered by moorage limitations. Potential visitors often pass us by on their way north to more accommodating marinas.

Expanding our facility will extend an invitation to those visitors to stop, shop and stay here. High fuel prices have not diminished the number of trips taken by boaters in the Seattle and Everett area. Discussions with visitors to our harbor reveal that high fuel prices have generated shorter trips to closer destinations such as South Whidbey. This is a potential opportunity to increase tourism here.

In addition to the economic benefits, the environment will be improved. We will be removing the creosote-piling from the abandoned marina and other significant debris such as the sunken floating-tire breakwater. Also, the plan includes upgrading the park and boat ramp which will improve the recreational use of the beach and uplands area for the local community as well as our visitors.

“You don’t get something for nothing.” We commissioners are requesting that voters voice their approval of these benefits by voting for a levy lift of 9 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value on the ballot in November. As an example of what this will cost homeowners, for a home assessed at $360,000 there will be an annual increase of $32.40 in property taxes.

While no one enjoys paying taxes, my fellow commissioners and I believe this is an investment that will benefit the entire community economically, environmentally and recreationally for many years to come.

The harbor expansion plans are on the port’s Web site: www.portofsouthwhidbey.com.

Lynae Slinden

Commissioner

Port of South Whidbey