Airport director asks county to hold funding steady at $197,081 despite rising costs

Airport Director Matthew Leitner presented the Rhinelander–Oneida County Airport’s 2027 operating request and said the county portion would remain the same as last year. Leitner told the committee the “request for funding of $197,081 is the same, even though the expenses have increased,” and noted higher airport usage and revenue from private-side services.

Chairman Billy Fried said the county is updating the existing Rhinelander–County agreement that currently requires matching funding between the city and county. Committee member Scott Holewinski pressed for clarity on fund balances and audit figures, asking Leitner to explain the airport’s unrestricted fund balance and recent audit results at the October budget hearings; Holewinski referenced 2023 audit expense and revenue figures presented to the committee as context for the request.

The committee approved a motion (Fried/Hess) to forward the $197,081 request to the October Budget Hearings. The vote was recorded as an affirmative voice vote.