The Ketchikan City Council on Thursday night approved an 8% rate increase for all city harbor use fees. That means the cost to use moorage facilities, harbor facilities and harbormaster services will all go up within the city.
There was little discussion on the rate change last week before the city council’s approval. But according to a letter from the city manager’s office, the changes were programmed into this year’s budget to “meet wage increases, increased operational and maintenance costs, and capital improvements.” The rate change will also lessen the operating deficit of the harbors department, per the city manager’s office. The increase is tied to the length of a vessel, and the monthly increase to each harbor user will vary.
The rate increase was first suggested by City Finance Director Michelle Johansen at a special budget work session in June. Johansen says the city council last voted to increase harbor use fees in 2024. She says the new change is part of a proposed plan to increase harbor rates 8% each year for the next five years. Those recommended rate increases must be made public by the city and go through an approval process before taking effect.
The proposed increase was posted at city hall, the harbors department office and on the city’s website in January. The rate increase was also discussed and unanimously agreed upon at a Port and Harbors Advisory Board meeting in February. A letter from the City Ports and Harbors Director Wayne Phillips states there was no public comment against the recommended rate increase at that meeting. The harbors department also did not receive emails opposing the suggested increase.
The city council approved the rate increase in a 4-2 vote, with council members Riley Gass and Jai Mahtani voting against. The rate increase will go into effect on April 1.
Hunter Morrison is a Report for America corps member for KRBD. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution.
