Port Royal shrimp docks out of red

Port Royal is close to breaking even -- or turning a small profit -- for the first time on its shrimp docks, an operation that has been a financial burden for the town since it took them over in 2009.

At of the end of April, dock revenue exceeded expenses by $7,000, according to numbers in the town's new budget that passed this week. During the previous four years, the docks lost $281,500.

The docks, leased from the S.C. State Ports Authority, are at the end of 11th Street beside Dockside Restaurant and closed to the public for liability reasons.

The town's $5.7 million budget for fiscal year 2016 includes $500,000 to operate the shrimp docks, after only $25,000 was set aside the previous year while the town tried to find a private operator. As the current year comes to a close, the costs and revenues for the docks have aligned after operating at an almost $180,000 loss the previous year.

Much of that loss was due to repairs, equipment and boat removal, said town manager Van WIllis. Those costs didn't exist this year.Instead, the only costs were for labor and shrimp, which the town buys from shrimpers and sells to large buyers in South Carolina and Georgia. Willis expects the town to begin selling shrimp from its seafood market beside the docks within a week, pending inspection by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.

Willis said the town has no current plans to find a private operator and will instead continue to operate it itself. A potential deal with Sea Eagle Market was voted down last year by Town Council.

Other notable aspects of the town's budgets include $65,000 to cover a possible storefront restoration program and potential Parks and Recreation projects. There is also $75,000 marked for possible streets projects.

The town also passed a resolution this week recommending Beaufort County consider the local-option sales tax instead of a capital sales tax.

Follow reporter Stephen Fastenau at twitter.com/IPBG_Stephen.

Related content

• Port Royal Town Council votes down shrimp dock contract, Oct. 8, 2014
• Port Royal Shrimp Docks lose more than $280,000 over 4 years, Oct. 7, 2014
• Port Royal, Sea Eagle Market near deal on shrimp dock use, Sept. 3, 2014

This story was originally published June 12, 2015 at 12:56 PM with the headline "Port Royal shrimp docks out of red."