The Port of Everett in Washington state is facing layoffs because of a continuing drop in space rentals at the marina and a loss in rent from businesses that were cleared from an area planned for redevelopment.
The port, which has about 100 employees, will cut the equivalent of about eight staff positions next year and give its 25 exempt employees six extra days off without pay.
“It’s tough,” John Mohr, the port’s executive director, told The Herald newspaper. “We’ve been able to avoid furloughs and layoffs for the last two years by keeping the pressure on.”
Mohr said the marina, once always full, is running at about 83 percent capacity as people sell their boats, move to a marina closer to their home or take their vessel home or into dry dock for storage.
A number of businesses in the north marina moved out in recent years because of a planned $400 million redevelopment that is now on hold. That has cost the port about $800,000 a year in rent.
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