Commissioners question airport expenses, unpaid raise and consulting fees; request FAA input

Commissioners spent an extended portion of the meeting discussing the county airport’s finances, staffing and consulting fees.

A commissioner said the airport authority had budgeted a $6,000 raise for a staff member (referred to in the transcript as Steve) but that the increase had not been processed as budgeted; the board asked staff to resolve the discrepancy and to process a payroll request. Commissioners raised concern about $430,000 in airport-related funds that they said lacked a clear accounting trail and asked county staff to provide answers. One commissioner asked for direct input from the Federal Aviation Administration, saying, “I’d really like to talk to somebody from the FAA because we are living and dying by what a Delta Airport Consulting is charging the living daylight out of us.”

Commissioners discussed long-term projects proposed by the airport authority, including a previously suggested 10-year plan and a runway/parking layout that county members suggested trimming to reduce FAA costs. The board praised the airport mechanic’s contributions and said the county should account for in-kind benefits such as rent and utilities if a private operator uses county facilities. Commissioners asked airport staff and consultants to provide clearer cost, revenue and billing information and to explain the $430,000 balance and Delta Consulting charges; they also asked for the payroll action related to the $6,000 raise to move forward if it had been authorized.