Category: ‘Reforming the Port’
How is the Port of Seattle Doing?
August 14th, 2010 by Bill
“How is the Port of Seattle doing?” Every day people ask me that. Often, they are more than just curious. Since the Port of Seattle generates over 100,000 jobs in King County, how it's doing is one indicator of our economy’s health. Here are facts and figures from the first half ...
First, Take Care of Basics!
June 23rd, 2010 by Bill
Failing to maintain the So. Park Bridge in So. Seattle and deferring $90M in maintenance on truck routes in So. King and No. Pierce counties are only two examples of how government too often spends money on new projects before maintaining existing infrastructure. They are also examples of how ...
How is the Port of Seattle doing?
December 21st, 2009 by Bill
People often ask me about how the Port of Seattle is doing in these tough times. This past year, the port commission worked very closely with port CEO Yoshitani and port staff to eliminate programs that had outlived usefulness, to cut payroll (6%), to increase employee medical contributions and to scrutinize expenditures. ...
First Time in Decades (maybe ever!) PORT CUTS TAXES
December 12th, 2009 by Bill
While some governments are talking about raising taxes and tapping reserves, the Port of Seattle has done the opposite. In our 2010 budget, we cut taxes and set up a new transportation/infrastructure reserve fund to start covering known, future liabilities. During 2009, the port commission emphasized the need for the port ...
Reforming the Port
November 24th, 2009 by Bill
The recommendations in the state auditor’s report that was issued in December 2007 have been implemented. The recommendations and reforms resulting from the internal fraud investigation that I chaired and concluded in December 2008 have been implemented. In addition: The port commission reasserted its oversight authority and ...
Bill Bryant is president of the King Co./Seattle Port Commission. He is also founder and chairman of BCI, an investor in Deneki Outdoors, and lives in Seattle with his wife Barbara.