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Airport board seeks city match for T-hangar and taxi-lane project to leverage federal funds
Summary
The Auburn-Lewiston Airport board asked Lewiston to include a contribution that would unlock federal and state funds for a larger taxi-lane and T-hangar project; staff said each city’s contribution leverages the remainder of a roughly $3.9 million project.
Jonathan LaBonte, the airport director under the interlocal agreement, briefed councilors on the Auburn-Lewiston Airport request. The airport board did not ask for an operating subsidy increase but asked for a city contribution to match federal/state funds on a taxi-lane and T-hangar project. Director LaBonte said the total project cost submitted to the FAA is about $3,900,000 and that Lewiston and Auburn were each being asked for roughly $150,000 to leverage the federal/state grant portion.
LaBonte explained the project design was adjusted to add taxi-lane length and two additional pre-approved building sites to attract private hangar investment. He said the engineering and permitting were complete, bids had been solicited and a low bidder was holding a price through mid-May; construction could begin this summer if funding is secured. When councilors asked what would happen if one sponsoring city declines to contribute, LaBonte said the airport could postpone or cancel the project and that the airport had already used about $500,000 in reserves to cover design expenses pending grant reimbursement.
Councilors requested clarity on the interlocal agreement and how capital requests beyond the baseline operating agreement would be handled. LaBonte encouraged a joint discussion among the two councils and the airport board if either municipality questions participation.
