Port of Tacoma commissioners have scheduled two public meetings to consider the Port’s 2012 budget, business forecast, finance plan and tax levy.

The first budget meeting on Oct. 27 will include an in-depth look at business forecasts, capital building plans, the tax levy and the 2011 budget. Commissioners will invite public comment at this meeting.

Community members are encouraged to attend this meeting to hear how the Port’s budget is formed and to provide input before the budget is adopted at the Nov. 17 meeting.

More budget information and materials will be available by Thursday’s meeting on the Port’s website at www.portoftacoma.com/budget. Hard copies of the presentation also will be available at the meeting.

The final meeting Nov. 17 is a special public hearing to formally adopt the 2012 statutory budget, tax levy and authorization to bank excess tax levy capacity.

Both meetings will be held in Room 104 of the Fabulich Center, at 3600 Port of Tacoma Rd. in Tacoma. The public is encouraged to attend. Meetings also are streamed live from the Port’s website at www.portoftacoma.com/webstreaming and are later broadcast on Click! and Comcast throughout Pierce County.

About the Port of Tacoma
The Port of Tacoma is an economic engine for South Puget Sound, with more than 43,000 family-wage jobs in Pierce County and 113,000 jobs across Washington state connected to Port activities. A major gateway to Asia and Alaska, the Port of Tacoma is among the largest container ports in North America. The Port is also a major center for bulk, breakbulk and project/heavy-lift cargoes, as well as automobiles and trucks.