The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on Monday, May 18, 2009 approved an $881 million budget for the Port of Long Beach that reflects the sluggish state of world trade and reduced cargo revenue but maintains the Port’s aggressive investment in environmental projects.
The fiscal year 2010 budget, which will cover October 2009 through September 2010, reduces Port spending by $139 million, or 13.6 percent, from the fiscal year 2009 spending plan. Despite the reduction, the new budget includes $369 million for capital projects to modernize terminals, cut air pollution and improve traffic flow on roads and railways. More than $96 million is designated for environmental programs, including $26 million for electrification of berths so ships can plug in and shut down diesel engines. Much of the difference between the budgets of 2008-09 and 2009- 10 stems from the evolution of the Clean Trucks Program. Conceived as a mostly Port-funded enterprise, the program has turned out in this current fiscal year to be based mostly on private transactions, thanks to changes in Clean Truck Fee exemptions. The desired clean air benefits are still being achieved, but without the originally anticipated level of cash flow through the Port. Environmental projects in the budget include $26 million for shore power projects on six piers, $5 million for the development of clean-air technology, and $5 million for potential wetlands restoration projects at the Colorado Lagoon and Los Cerritos Wetlands. The wetlands projects are planned as partnerships with city and state agencies and local citizens groups.
