Port of Bremerton Commissioners have passed a resolution endorsing the passage of Referendum 51. The Port joins a large coalition of both business and labor groups supporting the measure, which was placed on the November 2002 ballot by the Washington State Legislature.

Referendum 51, which includes a phased-in nine cent a gallon gas tax increase, a 1 percent tax on car sales and 30 percent increase in gross weight fees on trucks, will fund severely needed state transportation infrastructure improvements should it pass.

Port Commission President Cheryl Kincer stated, “The Port of Bremerton’s mission is to promote business and capital investment to create economic development in Kitsap County and the region. Passage of Referendum 51 would open up roadways and rail transportation systems for freight mobility, and would go a long way to improve the state’s transportation network.”

Kincer added, “The Port is taking the lead endorsing Referendum 51 to stress the importance of improved transportation infrastructure that would enable our state to become more competitive in the domestic and world market, which provides more family-wage jobs for our state’s citizens.”.