This information contradicts the SPA argument that without the global gateway the Port of Charleston will "wither and die." Jane Lareau points out that the environmental impact consultants said, "the SPA would continue to be a major influence in the state's economy," without expansion of the Charleston Port. Another popular argument for port expansion has claimed that if Charleston does not build the global gateway, Savannah will take the business. Opponents of expansion counter that there are physical constraints that would limit Savannah from becoming a hub port (Sparks).
The SPA bases their argument on figures from an Economic impact study done by Mercer Management Consulting in 1997. The study found that the port's impact on the state's economy in terms of sales and revenues resulting from commerce through its facilities were $10.7 billion, supporting 83.1 thousand jobs for state residents. These residents earned over $2.6 billion in personal income, and combined with the sales revenue impact, created a positive flow of $314.2 million in tax revenues for state and local governments (1997 EIS). The SPA stresses the significance of these figures when measured as percent increases from the economic impact study done in 1994. However, one opponent raises serious doubt about the credibility of SPA figures. Jerry Rosen, in a March 2002 letter to the editor of the Post and Courier, writes that.
The recent Legislative Audit Council report shed a lot of light on the SPA's operations. The SPA allows shippers to store empty containers free of charge for up to 500 days, while they continue to claim they are running out of room! Although contracts with shipping companies call for penalties after 14 days, no penalties have been billed. The SPA claims its computer system can't do the billing. Enron has better excuses. The SPA has been saying for years 83,000 jobs in South Carolina depend on the Port of Charleston.
