Hancock County adopts $50.1 million Port & Harbor FY2026 budget

The Hancock County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Sept. 2 to adopt the Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission’s FY2026 budget, totaling $50,117,184. Blaine Lafontaine, who introduced the item, said the budget is down roughly $1 million from last year and is driven primarily by capital projects.

“This is asking for approval for the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission’s adoption of the FY 2026 budget totaling $50,117,184,” Blaine Lafontaine said. He described a $30,967,811 capital improvement plan covering port, airport and railroad work and said the commission is anticipating about $15,000,000 in capital-project funding from a mix of sources, including Gulf Coast Restoration Fund requests.

Lafontaine outlined several proposed projects: approximately $15 million in potential capital across three projects at the port, railroad and airport; a 46,000‑square‑foot hangar development tied to Gulf Coast restoration funds; an MDA site‑development request for $2,000,000 to clear 82 acres at Site 1; and a recommended $6,000,000 spec building project near the McDonald Center. The presenter said the Port has been actively seeking grant and appropriation support and has had recent meetings with state leadership about FY2026 allocations.

Board members asked no further questions and approved the budget by voice vote, recorded as 5–0.

The Port’s FY2026 budget will proceed to implementation steps identified by the commission and the county administration, including pursuing the stated capital funding sources and any required grant agreements or state appropriations.