Marathon County committee backs $150,000 request to seed regional air‑service development fund

The committee voted to advance a request that Marathon County include $150,000 in its 2026 budget to help seed a Central Wisconsin Air Service Development Fund intended to attract new or expanded airline service to Central Wisconsin Airport.

The airport’s assistant finance director, David Drozd, told the committee the airport and regional partners seek a total fund of roughly $500,000; Marathon County’s $150,000 would be matched proportionally by Portage County and local private fundraising. Drozd said the fund would be used primarily as a temporary “minimum revenue guarantee” (MRG) to reduce startup risk for carriers and could be paired with airport-offered incentives such as landing‑fee or rent waivers.

Why it matters: Drozd said the airport’s current seat capacity (about 120,000 seats available in 2025) remains below pre‑pandemic levels and that roughly 70% of the area’s travelers now use other airports. County officials and some business leaders told the committee additional nonstop routes and greater frequency would support regional employers, tourism and workforce development.

Discussion and concerns centered on sustainability and risk. Supervisor Lemmer said neighborhood constituents were uncertain about a one‑time appropriation and asked how the fund would be sustained if airlines left. Administrator Leonard and airport representatives said the airport and its consultants are developing governance, reporting and performance metrics that would limit payouts to bona fide revenue shortfalls and make triggering payments contingent on multi‑flight or multi‑period performance rather than single‑flight variances.

The committee debated the amount. An initial motion referenced $100,000 but was amended on the floor to $150,000. The motion to include $150,000 in the 2026 budget passed and will be forwarded to the full county board; the committee record shows the motion carried but was not unanimous.

Airport staff noted the FAA revised guidance in 2023 to standardize community MRG programs and that some other Wisconsin counties have used similar tools. Airport representatives said the fund would not supplant airport operating revenues and that the airport does not expect to place recurring levy dollars on the county budget beyond the request being advanced for consideration.

The committee heard that the airport will continue to seek private contributions, foundations and other regional partners to reach the $500,000 target. Members asked staff to bring program terms and performance metrics to future meetings for committee review before funds are released.

The committee forwarded the $150,000 request to the full board for consideration in the 2026 budget process.