The bill that would transfer 116 acres of state-owned land just east of the Ike Skelton Training Facility to the Heartland Port Authority for a Missouri River port in Jefferson City is still under review, officials with Missouri Gov. Mike Parson's office said Tuesday.
The Legislature sent the land transfer bill to the governor at the end of the legislative session in May.
During the Port Authority Board's monthly meeting Tuesday, board members discussed how the land transfer could help with the current need for more funds.
Currently, the Port Authority's primary funding source is administrative money from the Missouri Department of Transportation.
Missy Bonnot, Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce economic development director, gave board members a letter she had received from MoDOT officials indicating the Heartland Port would get an additional point under the department's funding system for having a capital asset if the governor approves the land transfer. If that's the case, according to the MoDOT documentation, the Heartland Port would receive $37,442 in administrative funds - up $13,971 from the port's fiscal year 2020 amount of $23,471.
If the governor decides not to take any formal action on the matter by July 14, the land transfer will automatically take place Aug. 28, Bonnot said.
If the governor vetoes the measure, the Heartland Port would still get a little more in administrative fees, at $27,050.
And there are administrative funds other ports don't use that Heartland could obtain after the end of the state's fiscal year, June 30.
Coming into June, the Port Authority budget was nearly $3,000 more than had been budgeted.
The biggest portion of the board's budget is its contract with the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce to handle administrative services for $25,000.
Along with fees from affiliate groups that support ports, adding up to $1,000, the Heartland Port Authority's total revenue for 2020 was $24,471. Along with other expenses, such as dues to the Missouri Port Authority Association and fees for legal counsel, total expenses came up to $27,265.
In other action Tuesday, the board approved sending a non-binding memorandum of understanding to Plaquemines Port Harbor and Terminal District in Louisiana. The parties "believe it's in their mutual interest to establish an alliance of cooperation aimed at generating new business by promoting international and inland trade routes," according to the document.
Some initiatives that would be undertaken include joint marketing activities and market studies.
The MOU would be for five years. Board members said if Port Harbor officials agree with the wording in the document, a formal signing ceremony between the parties will take place here in Jefferson City at a later date.