I was suprised that this article didn't exist. This could be a Washington state thing only. I have always wondered why places like Sunnyside, Washington have a "Port of Sunnyside". Here is a list of port districts in Washington state: Washingtonports.org - Directory. Here is the state law that creates them:
- RCW 53.04.010
- Port districts authorized -- Purposes -- Powers -- Public hearing.
- (1) Port districts are hereby authorized to be established in the various counties of the state for the purposes of acquisition, construction, maintenance, operation, development and regulation within the district of harbor improvements, rail or motor vehicle transfer and terminal facilities, water transfer and terminal facilities, air transfer and terminal facilities, or any combination of such transfer and terminal facilities, and other commercial transportation, transfer, handling, storage and terminal facilities, and industrial improvements.
- (2) Powers of a port district that is located in a county that has a contiguous border with another state, and a population between fifty and seventy thousand, shall be exercised within the district, except as otherwise provided by statute or pursuant to an interlocal cooperation agreement with another public agency as defined in chapter 39.34 RCW. In addition to other requirements of chapter 39.34 RCW, such an interlocal cooperation agreement may involve the exercise of a port district's powers for a port district that is located in a county that has contiguous borders with another state, and a population between fifty and seventy thousand, outside the boundaries of the state of Washington in whole or in part only if found, by resolution of the port district commission exercising such authority, to be reasonably necessary for the effective exercise of the port district's statutory powers and for the benefit of the inhabitants of the district and the state of Washington. The resolution may be adopted only after a public hearing of which notice has been published in a newspaper of general circulation within the district at least ten days in advance.
Apparantly Oregon has them as well. PortofHoodRiver.com says:
- Ports in Oregon serve a unique function as government agencies that also focus on profit-making enterprises. Like other local governments, ports are authorized to levy taxes, borrow money, issue bonds, and charge for services. A very small portion of most ports’ revenues is derived from taxes. With a tax rate of just over three cents per $1,000 of assessed value, the Port of Hood River receives less than $40,000 in tax monies each year. Tax receipts account for slightly more than 1% of the Port’s $3 million annual operating budget.
- I'm not sure exactly what you are asking. How are these ports organized that is different from, for example Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Port of Los Angeles & Port of South Louisiana, to name three well-known examples? -- llywrch 17:12, 7 September 2005 (UTC)
- Those articles mostly refer to a port as the standard definition (a harbor with lots of docks) and not the governmental bodies that collect tolls, run irrigation water projects, own/manage airports, and are run by elected officials. I am just suprised that this article didn't exist becuse these are quite large and powerful forms of government. Cacophony 19:17, September 7, 2005 (UTC)
- The NY Port Authority article does go into some detail about the governmental body (although it does not explain who appoints its top people) & non-port duties, & the LA Port article explains that it is part of the City of Los Angeles. However, I agree with you that none of these articles explain how these obviously public bodies are set up: are their managers elected by voters, appointed by the state, or promoted up from lower beauracratic positions? But AFAIK, all ports in the US are run by public agencies, so some discussion of their types of organization would make for an appropriate Wikipedia article. -- llywrch 20:18, 8 September 2005 (UTC)
Move edit
I, for one, disagree with the move to port authority. Cacophony 04:18, 5 October 2006 (UTC)