Official: Cut airport funding

‘‘... The better policy is to allow the airport to stand or fall on its own as an independent economic entity, free of government subsidies,” Thompson said in an e-mail to The Gazette. ‘‘If the wealthy few who use the airport are willing to pay enough in user fees to make the airport a viable entity, then raise user fees. On the other hand, if the users of the airport don’t want to pay, then why should the general taxpayer? In ether case, there is no reason to subsidize the operation.”

Last month, Thompson, historically a conservative spender of government funds, was the lone vote against keeping the county’s property tax rate at 93.6 cents. Thompson wanted to lower it to the constant yield rate, as he has voted to do every year since 2000. The constant yield rate is determined by the state and is the rate at which the county would take in the same amount of revenue in fiscal 2008 as it did in the current year.

Thompson’s board colleagues argue that the county needs the additional revenue — roughly $16 million — that the 93.6-cent tax rate is expected to generate. Thompson counters that he would eliminate several programs and services to offset the decrease. One such item is the airport.

Commission President Jan H. Gardner (D) believes the airport is a plus for the county’s economy.

According to the airport’s Web site, the airport brings in roughly $60 million in revenue, and more than 300 businesses use it, on an annual basis.

Located in the City of Frederick, the airport generates most of its money from hangar and tie-down fees paid by airport users, said Jon Angel, city budget director.

The city contributes money to the operation of the airport when needed.The county’s contribution, which Thompson refers to as a ‘‘subsidy,” goes into the airport’s operating budget, Angel said.

If commissioners decide to eliminate the county’s funding for 2008, Angel said it would be an economic hardship for the airport.