General Information About Port San Luis

By Carolyn M. Moffatt

Port San Luis offers broad and diverse opportunity for marine access and comprehensive facilities for a working port.

The District supports a number of non-profit organizations including but not limited to the Lighthouse Keepers who are restoring the victorian Point San Luis Lighthouse Station, the Central Coast Salmon Enhancement, the Port San Luis Marine Institute, Coast Guard Reserve and the San Luis Obispo Yacht Club. These organizations in turn provide support to the District by way of their activities and programs that supplement the facilities and fuctions of the Port and are very important to the quality of service to the public.

The Harbor District untilzes local property tax funds which were initially approved by a vote of the people when the District was formed in the mid '50s, but which are now allocated through the state according to its financial management needs. These tax funds are budgeted to provide for benefit to the general public for activities that do not generate funds through fees for services or enterprise activity,primarily public safty provided by the Harbor Patrol and Lifeguards and recreation opportunities such as the beaches at Avila and the Old Port Beach. Tax funds make up the General Fund of our budget. Monies from leases, licenses and fees for services make up the Enterprise Fund. This division of funds allows the Commission and the public to clearly identify where the monies come from and where they go.

Major capital projects are funded by resesrves that are leveraged with matching funds grants to grow our opportunities. If grants cannot be found for essential projects such as the pier restoration we must package low intrest loans with revenue generating projects. For example , the revenue from Harbor Terrace has been intended to be collateral for a loan to restore the pier as grants have not been available for that project.First we must be able to move Harbor Terrace through the permitting process which has been frustrating.

Many thanks to our constituents, our non profit partners and those regulatory and funding agencies that have been instrumental the progress of the District in recent years. To the public, Come out and enjoy! Carolyn Moffatt