POULSBO — Inflation is inevitable.

But for boaters at the Port of Poulsbo this year, at least it will be a little less of a burden.

At their Sept. 16 meeting, port commissioners will be holding a public hearing on the proposed 2005 budget, after which they are expected to adopt the document.

No increase in guest moorage is planned and a less than 1.2 percent increase in permanent moorage is proposed compared with the 3 percent increase that occurred last year. For an average 40-foot slip, this means a monthly increase of about 96 cents on each month’s bill.

Port Manager Ed Erhardt said the smaller increases in moorage this year are due to boaters making more efficient use of utility resources last year.

“It’s a year I feel we can give something back to our customers without jeopardizing any of our projects,” Erhardt commented. “I personally feel we need to keep things at a minimum but we also have to accomplish things as well.”

The draft 2005 budget proposes a total operating expenses of about $732,848 for both the guest and permanent sides of the port compared with $738,000 in 2004. Revenues for next year are estimated at $792,512.

About $52,000 of the total expenditures accounts for capital projects. Those plans for 2005 include computer hardware are software replacement, “C” dock pedestal replacement and upgrades to the fuel dock hardware.

The new document also budgets $60,032 in grant/matching fund reserves for the possibility of upcoming large projects such as replacing the breakwater.

Copies of the budget are now available at the Port of Poulsbo office on the Poulsbo Marina’s “E” dock.

Sidebox:

Port of Poulsbo 2005 Budget Hearing

7 p.m. Sept. 16

Poulsbo Marina multipurpose room on “E” dock

Info: (360) 779-9905