A debate is brewing at the Port of Seattle about a proposed $5 million donation to the UW Business School, as some commissioners don’t see the plan as an appropriate allocation of taxpayer money.

Commissioners Patricia Davis and Bob Edwards have not yet stated their views, but commissioners Lloyd Hara, John Creighton and Alec Fisken are all in opposition of the plan.

Creighton, though, acknowledges the need for improved facilities at the business school.

“I know that the current business school building is old and in disrepair and inadequate for a topflight program, such as the business school has become,” he said.

Citing the state auditor’s 2005 audit of the Port’s books, Creighton believes the donation might be outside the realm of the Port’s mission.

“I do not believe that funding education programs is within the authority of the Port of Seattle pursuant to the limited legislative authority and mission set out by statute,” he said.

The proposed plan would earmark $4 million to build a new building near Mackenzie Hall for the Business School. The other $1 million would help to establish a chair for global leadership.

One of those in favor of the plan is UW regent William H. Gates, Sr.

Gates believes establishing the chair is almost as important as erecting the building.

The new chair will lead to positive changes such as students being required to attend classes about trade and creating graduates who are experts in the subject of trade, Gates said.

“I suspect the donation will be an obvious discussion point of the meeting, but in view of the limitations perceived by a majority of the port commission on our authority to donate tax levy funds to an academic institution, I am hoping we will discuss other possible ways the port and UW can work together,” Creighton said.

UW School of Business dean James Jiambalvo’s office said the dean would not publicly comment on the proposed donation until after the commission voted on the plan. The dean is scheduled to meet with some of the commissioners, including Creighton, next week. A possible vote could come as soon as late January.

Remaining optimistic, Gates doesn’t see the plan as a dead issue if it doesn’t get the necessary votes at the end of the month.

“I guess no issue is ever really dead in a moving world where you have new activities at the business school and new commissioners at the port,” said Gates. “I think ‘temporarily retired’ would best describe it.”

Reach reporter Shaun Moore at shaunmoore@thedaily.washington.edu