The Port of Olympia Commission held a public hearing on its draft 2027 operating budget and tax levy Monday, Nov. 9, alongside a contested proposal to lease airport property to an aviation development company.

The meeting at Percival Plaza in Olympia also included a vote to fill a vacancy on the Port of Olympia Community Advisory Committee (POCAC) and a scheduled executive session, according to the Port's meeting agenda.

Budget hearing opens public input window

The public hearing covered the Port's draft 2027 proposed operating budget, capital investment plan and tax levy.

The draft budget was first presented during public work sessions on Oct. 5 and Oct. 6 and at a public meeting on Oct. 26, according to the agenda.

The Commission is scheduled to adopt the final 2027 budget at its Nov. 23 meeting at 4 p.m. A copy of the draft budget is available at the Port's offices at 606 Columbia St. NW, Suite 201, and on the Port's website.

Vesper Aviation lease draws opposition

One of the meeting's most watched items was a proposed lease with Vesper Aviation, doing business as OLM Hangar and FBO LLC. '

The agenda listed the item but the full meeting packet, which would contain lease terms, was not available for review.

The proposal drew organized opposition from the Facebook group Stop Olympia Airport Growth, which urged residents to attend the meeting or email commissioners. In a post published Nov. 8, the group described the proposal as a plan to sell a publicly owned airport building and grant a 50-year ground lease to Vesper Aviation. The group alleged the deal would "circumvent public oversight and open the door to airport expansion."

The group's post stated Port staff characterized the transaction as continuing existing airport operations, including helicopter flight training. The group disputed that framing, writing that the proposed agreement "expressly contemplates development of an 'aviation business campus'" and that Vesper "is a developer of facilities serving private jets."

The group also stated that staff proposed selling the Glacier Aviation building at 7645 Old Highway 99 for $102,000 without providing a financial comparison to retaining ownership.

Vesper Aviation develops and operates fixed-base operators (FBOs) and hangar facilities in Texas, California, Washington and Arizona, according to a City of Chandler, Ariz., announcement about a separate Vesper ground lease approved there in August 2026. An FBO is a private business that provides services such as fueling, parking and hangar space at an airport.

No response from Port staff or commissioners to the group's allegations appears in the available record.

New airline service adds context

The meeting came days after SeaPort Airlines announced a new direct route between Spokane and Olympia starting Jan. 8, 2027. The flights will operate Fridays and Sundays during the 2027 legislative session, as first reported by the Kitsap Sun.

Port Commission President Jasmine Vasavada called the new service a boost for the regional economy. "Convenient air access supports our regional economy and makes our capital city more accessible to businesses, government leaders, and citizens across Washington," Vasavada said in a statement about the SeaPort partnership.

One-way fares start at $279. SeaPort operates nine-passenger Pilatus PC-12 aircraft out of Olympia Regional Airport, with no TSA screening required.

What's next

The Commission meets Nov. 23 at 4 p.m. to adopt the final 2027 budget. Written public comment can be submitted to [email protected] by noon on the day of any meeting.