Kat Sorensen
13:09 - 14:01
“Usually in the Harbor and SMIC, those gaps are addressed with state or federal funds, grant monies, but over the next few years, we want to steer both of those funds more towards a greater self-reliance”
- Speaker
- Kat Sorensen
- Timestamp
- 13:09 – 14:01
- Community
- Alaska News
- Location
- Seward
- Captured at
- October 28, 2026
From the transcript
Usually in the Harbor and SMIC, those gaps are addressed with state or federal funds, grant monies, but over the next few years, we want to steer both of those funds more towards a greater self-reliance using grant money for additional services rather than standards ones. But a big reason why we didn't start that steering this year is we do anticipate a good amount of grant monies coming in over the course of the next few years with the announcements from the Coast Guard and a variety of infrastructure— port infrastructure grants that are out there. And so that's just a big, a big question mark usually of whether or not those grant monies will come in, and we don't budget for them. Over time, we'll start to transition more towards that self-reliance, but I don't necessarily think we now is the right time to do that with a lot of the promising updates that we're seeing in both of those areas. Unless Tony wholeheartedly disagrees with me, but I don't think he does.
Related Coverage
Seward's harbor proposes higher travel lift rates and passing card fees to customers
Seward's harbormaster wants travel lift rates up 10% plus inflation in 2027 and 2028 and card fees passed to customers. One lift cable went from $12K to $35K.
Seward city manager floats cutting electric rates instead of property taxes in 2028
Seward's city manager pitched cutting everyone's electric rates in 2028 instead of property taxes, by dropping a $678,000 fee. It came to her that day.
