Airport fund shows modest levy, taxi-lane project delayed; fund relies on state-administered federal aid

Finance staff explained that the airport operates in a separate fund (224) and that the proposed tax levy for 2027 is about $50,800, a slight decrease from $53,001.95 in 2026. The airport has limited wages and benefits budgeted after recent staff departures and the department increased contracted services to cover maintenance and potential plowing needs.

On capital projects, staff said a taxi-lane reconstruction project was bid but delayed due to Federal Aviation Administration review of allowable BOA funding; the project will be rebid next year. The county previously acquired land at the end of the runway to improve the approach, not to extend the runway. "The airport gets a lot of their funding from the Bureau of Aeronautics, which is federal funding passed through to the state," a finance staff member said, noting the BOA typically bills the county a percentage of projects.