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County accepts state grant for airport geothermal work; budget proposes $1.97M/year airport stabilization plan
Summary
Legislature accepted a New York State grant to add geothermal components to airport rescue/firefighting and snow‑removal facilities and heard a county administration proposal to provide roughly $1.97 million per year for three years to stabilize Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport operations.
Tompkins County accepted a New York State Department of Transportation grant Sept. 2 to install geothermal heating and cooling at airport aircraft rescue‑firefighting and snow‑removal equipment facilities, and legislators discussed a separate county proposal to provide recurring funding to stabilize Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport operations.
The Facilities and Infrastructure Committee moved and the legislature voted unanimously to accept the NYSDOT funding and to authorize the local share. Committee members and airport staff said the grant reduced the local burden for geothermal installation; county materials note a local contribution of roughly $336,000 drawn from airport fund balance and proceeds from a land sale to NYSDOT (resolution materials and presentation). Roxanne, speaking for the airport, said the airport "was happy to get this grant, you know, because if not, it would have been a larger portion that the FAA would not cover." The resolution passed unanimously.
During the county budget presentation, administration proposed a three‑year, $1.97 million per year airport stabilization commitment intended to leverage short‑term rental sales tax, a room occupancy tax contribution and a property tax levy contribution to reduce passenger fees and incentivize airline service. Norma described the plan as using approximately $1.1 million in short‑term rental sales tax, $500,000 in room tax and $371,000 in property tax levy per year as the components of the yearly commitment.
Committee and airport reporting also noted operational matters: a Part 139 safety inspection was reported to have gone well with only minor items to address, and load factors on the United Dulles flights were reported in the high 80s percent range. Committee chairs said they would supply more detail on airport fund balances and proposed local shares as staff prepares implementation materials and grant paperwork.
Ending: The county accepted state grant funds to advance a geothermal project at airport facilities and administration included a multiyear airport stabilization proposal in the recommended budget; staff will return with more detailed fund‑balance and implementation information.
