Port Budget Crisis: Commission salary/key state lobbying agency dues eliminated

Facing a looming deadline and dwindling resources, the Ocean Highway and Port Authority (OHPA) voted Wednesday to make significant cuts to its 2025-26 budget eliminating the $15,500 annual dues to the Florida Ports Council and approving an overall $20,000 salary reduction for commissioners ahead of the Oct. 1 fiscal deadline.

“We have to balance our budget. We’ve lived off of COVID money for the last several years… Now that’s gone,” said Commissioner Scott Moore, who introduced the motion to cut ties with the Florida Ports Council. “Absent cutting the $15,500 annual dues… what other things are my fellow commissioners willing to cut?”

The Florida Ports Council functions as both a lobbying and administrative body. It coordinates with the state legislature to secure funding through programs like FDOT’s FSTED (Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development), manages the legislative priorities of all 15 deepwater ports in Florida, and helps ports comply with state regulations. The council was instrumental in helping OHPA obtain nearly $800,000 in Paycheck Protection Program funds during the pandemic — a lifeline that is no longer available.

OHPA is now grappling with that loss, as well as the expiration of other COVID-era relief. Commissioner Miriam Hill delivered a sharp rebuke of the proposed cut.

“The only reason why we got PPP funding in the first place is because the Florida Ports Council lobbied for us to get those payments and to get that almost $800,000, which is now gone,” she said. “If we don’t intend to apply for grants or care about funding or care about FSTED funding, we shouldn’t be a public port. And then we wouldn’t have a public board.”

The vote to remove the dues passed 3-2, with Moore, Commissioner Mike Cole, and Vice Chair Ray Nelson in favor. Hill and Chair Justin Taylor opposed.

Still, Nelson left the door open for other funding options. He floated the idea that Relay Terminals — the port’s operator — might consider picking up the tab for the Florida Ports Council dues. “Would Relay Terminals pay that dues for the 25-26 fiscal year?” he asked. Relay executive Ted McNair didn’t rule it out but noted he’d need to consult with company officials.

“We’ve got to get a balanced budget in place October 1st,” said Chairman Justin Taylor. “There aren't many options here.”

The board also voted to cut commissioner salaries from $120,000 to $100,000 — a $4,000 reduction per commissioner — after Commissioner Moore made the motion “in the spirit of cutting.”

With COVID relief funds gone, and the port facing budget shortfalls, the commissioner salaries were accounting for a significant 47% of the annual OHPA budget, according to Chair Taylor.

OHPA commissioner salaries had been a topic of debate since the pay rate was doubled from $12,000 to $24,000 annually several years back. Several attempts to roll back the salary scale had failed in the past.

The salary cut passed unanimously.

Nelson supported the salary rollback. “I am not in any way in opposition of a salary cut. If that’s what we have to do to make it right, then we do it,” he said.

Chairman Taylor reminded the board that while cuts were made, the final vote on the budget is still pending. “This is now our tentative budget… It can be changed,” he said.

OHPA will finalize the 2025-26 budget at its last scheduled meeting of the month, Sept. 24.