Two Billion Budgeted for Canal

The legislature approved over $2 billion for the Panama Canal Authority October 2010 to September 2011 budget.

As far as returns, budget-makers expect over $1.6 billion in tolls from 14,286 ships, an average of 34.9 transits a day if the math is correct.

Of that $1.6 billion, the national treasury would bank $839 million and $136.3 million would be allocated towards Canal expansion projects.

The 2009-2010 budget was also around $2 billion with estimated operation costs at about $638 million and $753.9 million set aside for government coffers.

Commemoration Exercises, Gatun Lock, Panama Canal, 1939 / IMAGE Library of Congress