The Kingston Community News’ April editorial quoted my January statement that Port of Kingston’s costs for handling public records requests (PRR) were about 80 percent of our tax revenue. The actual costs have turned out to be considerably higher.

The port’s current six-month average cost (October through March) is $16,392 per month. At that rate, PRR costs would be $196,706 for 12 months. Given expected 2016 tax revenue of $188,836, our 2016 PRR costs would be 104 percent of our tax revenue.

Walt Elliott
Chairman
Kingston Port Commission

Walt Elliott, Kingston