President Obama's Savannah port money disappoints - Georgia officials had hoped for roughly $100 million as Savannah and other East Coast ports race to deepen their harbors to handle the supersized cargo ships expected to begin arriving through an expanded Panama Canal in 2015.

From The Savannah Morning News:

President Barack Obama is recommending $1.28 million in federal funding in the next fiscal year for the proposed deepening of the Savannah harbor — far short of what Georgia officials were hoping for as they get ready to begin construction.

The proposed installment for the $652 million project for the Port of Savannah was contained in the White House’s budget blueprint released Wednesday.

Georgia officials had hoped for roughly $100 million as Savannah and other East Coast ports race to deepen their harbors to handle the supersized cargo ships expected to begin arriving through an expanded Panama Canal in 2015.

The state has already allocated $231 million for the Savannah project, which could be the saving grace for a construction start later this year.

“But make no mistake — we are extremely disappointed,” said Curtis Foltz, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority.

“The administration had a great opportunity to stand tall and support the pledge it made last summer to expedite this project,” he said. “Instead, the budget request was doubly disappointing as it didn’t address the need to raise the spending limit on the original project — set some 15 years ago — and it didn’t provide any significant funding.

“When they failed to recommend an increase in the spending limit, they couldn’t provide the funding,” Foltz said.

“The president has said he wants to double exports,” Foltz said. “There is no better place than this port to do that.”

The Port of Savannah is the second-largest for exports in the country.

It’s imperative to address the spending limits issue, as that could stall construction already financed by the state, Foltz said.

“Congress can do that through the water bill and other avenues, and our delegation is working hard on that as we speak. If we can get past that hurdle, there’s still a good chance we can start significant construction this year,” he said.

“But it’s time for the federal government to step up.”

Last July, the president listed seven “nationally and regionally significant infrastructure projects” at five major ports — including Savannah’s — promising to put each on a fast track designed to save time and drive better outcomes for local communities.

Of the five, Savannah’s deepening project was the furthest along.

“The proposed project would enable the Port of Savannah to accommodate larger cargo vessels and other ships, ultimately facilitating more efficient movement of goods,” the White House said in announcing its “We Can’t Wait” initiative.

Congressman Jack Kingston, R-Ga., was clearly frustrated Wednesday when he learned what the budget suggested.

“Last July, the Obama Administration touted its commitment to expediting the deepening of Savannah’s harbor,” Kingston said. “Today it failed to honor that commitment by continuing to slow walk this project.

“What happened to ‘We can’t wait’?

“The Savannah Harbor Expansion Project will create jobs and prepare our region and our nation for the economy of the future,” he added. “Today our ports contribute $4.5 billion in federal taxes annually. They account for more than 352,000 jobs and contribute $32.4 billion to Georgia’s economy alone. Continued delay threatens to shut off this economic engine.

“We appreciate President Obama’s kind words last summer. Now we need action.”

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson took a more conciliatory tone.

“I am pleased that the administration continues to have a placeholder in the budget for the Port of Savannah and has maintained the commitment to keep it there,” Isakson said.

“I work on SHEP almost every day because it is our state’s top economic development project, and I will continue my efforts to see this critically important project through to the end.”