[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6531766,"mediaKeyId","3458988-4a7ebf2c8938d8ec0c1d186071c1d848","parentId",3458988,"title","Commission approves two‑year operating and capital budget for FY2026–27, includes Southfield Phase 2 parking expansion","audioSeconds",888,"startMs",1870000,"endMs",2758000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3458988-4a7ebf2c8938d8ec0c1d186071c1d848&start=1870&end=2758","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3458988-4a7ebf2c8938d8ec0c1d186071c1d848/thumbnail_1870000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6531766/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Commission-approves-twoyear-operating-and-capital-budget-for-FY202627-includes-Southfield-Phase-2-parking-expansion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531766-0833b7d44bfa958faf5e87febf60640d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195149&Signature=DwcwOIpsjDZu1mt4roojtEabIaw3evp~J1h-dzq6k4ISibqhHVMVJ5tOMNe9Cfbq884SxsnOr21zRMGxvJgZLWnsm6L~CT44xwXsEzDDPaenGVjVf89M4bp7L8Eh4tm~7meVf~xTfMdLz3-xC9EQPuBeLhe8Ui00TNMsKL~Jw2SgS9JwlCYZsF4cjrHbCQ6EASJDRwIoj1Y-LW4Px2wgqhqgsk53toZy3FgR-5icVcJ8YB1tNNTnwdYQdHo8yjPSbQ2wEn0~1wcX-Yg3hyhKm5OILOp1jOqEzL7ALOUBEW0M~V1a9JJEnAackGHBI113bUqIsqMBXVKMVFIHFkW~XQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Santa Barbara, CA","date","2025-05-23T00:37:09Z","article","The Santa Barbara Airport Commission voted unanimously on May 21 to approve the airport’s two‑year operating and capital budget for fiscal years 2026–27.

Business Manager Jonathan Abad presented the proposed budget. Abad said the airport is an enterprise fund that receives no general‑fund subsidy and relies on tenant rents, user fees and federal grants. The commission approved a budget that staff said funds operating needs while advancing capital projects including long‑term parking, terminal improvements and a taxiway extension.

The approved budget as presented includes about $8.5 million in capital projects for FY26 and roughly $4.9 million in FY27. A major FY26 item is Southfield Phase 2, described in the presentation as a parking expansion project estimated at about $5.8 million that would add roughly 400 parking spaces and—when complete—produce an estimated net savings and additional revenue of about $1 million per year. Staff said the project could reduce use of the overflow lot and would require a shuttle program outside the busiest months.

Abad outlined other capital items and funding sources. The Customer Facility Charge (CFC), a rental‑car collection, is projected to provide roughly $1,000,000 annually and will be used to fund about half of Southfield Phase 1/Phase 2 parking work. The Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) fund held about $6.9 million at the end of FY24, with staff proposing to apply roughly $5.1 million of accrued PFCs to reimburse operating reserves and to purchase a new aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) truck pending FAA approval of a formal application.

The budget document showed several targeted capital or maintenance items: $750,000 for Carneros Creek maintenance to address silt and reduce flooding risk; an estimated $1.2 million airport share for the Taxiway Bravo extension (airport portion of a larger FAA‑funded project); and an allocation for the General Western Arrowhangars stabilization or potential demolition work. Abad told commissioners the taxiway project remains in environmental review and that most construction funding is expected from FAA grants.

On staffing, staff proposed a total of about 82 authorized positions in the airport department—about nine more than the prior fiscal year. Some positions were already hired as overhires and would be regularized; others (including two additional airport police officers and an assistant airport director) remain unfilled pending council approval. Staff also noted increases in supplies and services driven by security equipment needs, marketing incentives for potential new routes and rising utility and maintenance costs.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about pavement costs, runway/airspace approaches and timeline estimates for consultant‑assisted noise mitigation work. Abad and Director Hastert said a consultant will assist with designing new GPS approaches to reduce community noise impacts; staff estimated the approach development could take up to a year without additional airport expense and one to three years if the airport relies on FAA‑led publishing timelines.

The motion to approve the two‑year operating and capital budget for fiscal years 2026–27 was made, seconded and carried unanimously. Staff said the budget will proceed to the city council for final approval as required by city procedures.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Airport Commission - May 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Santa Barbara Airport Commission voted unanimously on May 21 to approve the airport’s two‑year operating and capital budget for fiscal years 2026–27.","taxTitle","Santa Barbara City, Santa Barbara County, California","taxId",4209,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6531771,"Airport Commission approves 5% increase to fiscal 2026 airline rates and charges",969,886000,1855000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3458988-4a7ebf2c8938d8ec0c1d186071c1d848&start=886&end=1855","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3458988-4a7ebf2c8938d8ec0c1d186071c1d848/thumbnail_886000.jpg","/articles/6531771/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Airport-Commission-approves-5-increase-to-fiscal-2026-airline-rates-and-charges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531771-c21b6703c26a0c2c0e4c6fe8920480f9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195149&Signature=onePvEiyHRCIV0tWEgX0J-t75A5zBfD4uNaul1U-Mj0aWwSpamJ-3aoL6ouQCXchOxakafu9lYjfhHLMV6ZtZdILxa54VEqlnEVupaKIn49PqeTV6D2oOSpURl~MrBmGuVZZTi4QJE5XVPypI32FnzhP8sum6Ogtyx6~zIHT7sLCp5mZhI46AsVMIUHqzMVZewMN~PTnd5gq4kVZiuHoyxzg0fYheHPHMlr6kjyUb10qd359EgbqQ9CP9eVL2i7Ea7aaz05BMFzLwK8N4AzVmM1QCapoxUsVvdjxT0qjTDNeNCQ2HYDbPZEboenbWCpHCkxs-vyHWht2V2G4fkmPsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Barbara Airport Commission voted unanimously on May 21 to approve a 5% increase in airline rates and charges for fiscal 2026.

Jonathan Abad, the airport business manager, presented the proposal and explained the commission took a negotiated approach this year rather than applying a pure cost-recovery formula. “We settled on a 5% increase, which still helps to cover our costs with an increase, but is more palatable to the airline,” Abad said.

Abad told commissioners the airport received roughly $19 million in federal COVID relief funding since 2020 and those funds have been used to stabilize airline rates through fiscal 2026. He said terminal and other operating rates remain competitive despite Santa Barbara’s higher operating costs and that passenger traffic has rebounded to record levels — an annualized total above 1.3 million passengers at the time of the presentation.

Abad summarized drivers of the increase as higher maintenance and operations costs, rising utility bills, staffing needs and capital projects including long‑term parking and terminal improvements. He said the proposed 5% figure is lower than what a strict cost-recovery calculation would have produced but balances near-term affordability for carriers with airport funding needs.

Commissioners asked about capacity and whether the terminal could accommodate more flights without expansion. Abad said there is additional schedule capacity at off-peak times but that growth strains the customer experience when gates are fully used. Commissioners also discussed a previous decision to waive certain landing fees for new service and noted those waivers are ending, which contributes to higher airline revenues in the budget.

The motion to approve the fiscal 2026 airline rates and charges was made and seconded during the meeting and passed unanimously. No commissioner votes were recorded against or abstaining.","The Santa Barbara Airport Commission unanimously approved a negotiated 5% increase to airline rates and charges for fiscal 2026 after a presentation from Business Manager Jonathan Abad. Commissioners heard that federal relief funds have kept rates lower through FY26.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6531775,"Owner of Above All Aviation tells commission employees have been harassed by unknown caller",175,78000,253000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3458988-4a7ebf2c8938d8ec0c1d186071c1d848&start=78&end=253","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3458988-4a7ebf2c8938d8ec0c1d186071c1d848/thumbnail_78000.jpg","/articles/6531775/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Owner-of-Above-All-Aviation-tells-commission-employees-have-been-harassed-by-unknown-caller","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531775-035362a1ad46f87e68785dd46fd85a14/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195149&Signature=Gvn9nyfS1BxonzUcgrz8d36cDPPq1Asqh1G1S7JpjOzrRCdfp72aOVE6qHNgf4pCd1b2MKjy2ra6HMu0rthtkGPdq6-7dE~uKgzvC8T2YKU0~oPmZotiDfpAV1U09ns-mDkcpI3b0kVmdTzZvU8bXCamzeq51cgUqRdwv4yv7gabCABh2ABK2VYg71x5Bio3Gd9OOP3oOBgImb1I0AVW4h0UejGSVhvpbRy1z6S4MpBY0nLyZMHNJKiBis0OSB2dC-wJynBWGvKTHMOC9Nk7xliaN7jErWkjQL~u3RZhADM0iRkVnf~TE9iM40sHOTNQlpLGz70H1r-uCKaUx0bVHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the May 21 meeting of the Santa Barbara Airport Commission, the owner of Above All Aviation reported that an unknown person has repeatedly called and harassed the flight school’s employees.

The owner, identified in public comment as Sean, told commissioners the calls began in July of last year and continued into recent weeks. Sean said callers obtained what the speaker described as private information about employees and have made threatening statements. “My employees do not deserve to be harassed by whomever is doing this,” Sean said, and offered to meet with the caller to explain flight patterns and operations.

Sean played audio excerpts for the commission, including a caller saying, “Please call whichever pilot is flying tonight and tell them to quit flying over Rancho Goleta as low as they are,” and another voice that said, “You got about 80 residents from this community who are coming to the airport commission this week. It's the last time.” The speaker said the caller also identified a flight instructor and referenced the instructor’s certificate expiration date.

Sean provided a contact phone number during public comment and said the business is willing to meet with concerned residents to explain why training flights operate as they do. Chair Glaser and staff did not announce any follow-up action at the meeting.

The concerns were raised during the public-comment portion of the commission’s regular agenda; commissioners noted the item and moved on to liaison reports and staff briefings. No formal complaint or investigation was recorded in the meeting minutes or on the public record presented at the meeting.

The commission did not take a formal vote related to the public comment. Director Hastert and other staff later discussed unrelated agenda items including upcoming pavement work, terminal construction impacts, and noise-mitigation efforts.

The commission’s next regular meeting date was not announced during the public-comment exchange.","At the May 21 Santa Barbara Airport Commission meeting, the owner of Above All Aviation reported repeated harassing phone calls to employees and requested that whoever is responsible stop; no formal action was taken.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission approves two‑year operating and capital budget for FY2026–27, includes Southfield Phase 2 parking expansion

Airport Commission approves 5% increase to fiscal 2026 airline rates and charges

Owner of Above All Aviation tells commission employees have been harassed by unknown caller