The Port of Vancouver USA Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the port’s 2025 operating budget during its November 26 regularly scheduled board meeting. The $112 million budget was developed to meet the goals of the port’s strategic plan.

Port Budget Process:
Each October, port staff reviews projected revenues and expenses against the port’s goals and objectives for the coming year and develops a preliminary budget. A budget administrative work session took place on October 22, 2024, to review the preliminary budget. During the commission’s November 26 meeting, the public was given the opportunity to provide input, and then the commission took a vote on final approval. The three commissioners voted to adopt the 2025 budget that supports the port’s strategic goals and mission to create economic benefit to our community.

To view the final 2025 budget or learn more about the port’s budget process, visit: portvanusa.com/about/budget.

Revenues and Expenses:
The port’s operating budget for 2025 forecasts revenues of $50.6 million with the bulk of those revenues generated from marine and terminal operations and industrial leases. The remainder comes from rail operations, security services and commercial activities. These funds cover the port’s operating expenses, which include day-to-day operations and staff salaries.

The port’s non-operating revenues include property taxes totaling $13.8 million. Tax revenue collected by the port is used exclusively to build and improve facilities, repayment of general obligation bonds and for environmental remediation. Economic impact analysis has shown that taxpayers received a 1:11 return on investment. This means that for every tax dollar paid to the port, $11 is generated by port marine and industrial businesses to support public services like roads, schools, police and fire service via city, county and state tax revenue. According to its most recent economic impact study, the port supports nearly 20,000 jobs and $2.9 billion in economic benefit.

Operating expenses for 2025 are expected to be $46.6 million, an increase over the estimated 2024 expense forecast, largely due to planned dredging of shipping berths to keep cargo moving efficiently and personnel additions to address port business needs. The 2025 non-operating expenses include debt service of $11.5 million and continuing costs for environmental remediation of $1.3 million.

“The Port of Vancouver USA’s budget positions us to maximize opportunities and weather potential uncertainties in 2025 and beyond,” said Julianna Marler, CEO, Port of Vancouver USA. “This plan allows us to modernize our marine terminals to efficiently handle current cargo and future commodities, invest in our buildings and infrastructure, and continue transforming Terminal 1 into a regional destination. There will be fluctuations in some of our maritime activity, yet manufacturing activity continues to grow among our industrial businesses. Our focus is to maintain strong economic benefits for our community.”