Port Royal budget includes shrimp dock, park improvements

Port Royal will continue fund its iconic shrimp docks, though money for the operation was cut in half over the previous year’s allotment.

The $5.87 million budget passed by the town Wednesday includes $250,000 for the docks. That’s down from the half a million budgeted in the last fiscal year.

A new fire truck, a police officer and updated town multimedia equipment were among the other expenses.

The docks continue to bleed money from the town, losing an average of more than $50,000 each year the past five years, town manager Van Willis noted in his budget request. But the town has continued to fund repairs and equipment and is looking at plans for a top-of-the-line seafood processing facility to replace the building lost in a fire last summer.

Willis presented preliminary renderings Wednesday of a possible new building to be built with insurance money from the fire. The plan includes a seafood market area in front, room for coolers and ice, and a processing and packing area.

“It’s pretty practical,” Willis said. “It’s not excessively large, and it’s very functional.”

The town will work with the state Department of Administration to decide whether the $1.8 million insurance payout for the lost building was appropriate, Willis said.

Town Council allocated $500,000 for the dock operation last fiscal year, and the docks were operating at a $150,000 deficit when the next budget was made.

Council cut $50,000 more from the initial proposal of $300,000 for the next year.

Also in the town’s budget:

• $24,000 for a new truck for the Fire department, part of a three-year lease payment.
• $70,000 to match a grant for a new police officer.
• Money for ongoing park projects, including plans for a fire pit and cooking area in John Parker Park. The town also received a $25,000 grant for the park.
• Money for an updated website and new audio-visual equipment at Town Hall.
• Continuing a program providing matching money for businesses wanting to improve the look of their building or landscaping.
• A 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment.
• No increased taxes or fees.

This story was originally published June 8, 2016 at 7:35 PM with the headline "Port Royal budget includes shrimp dock, park improvements."