Merrill Field staff propose 10% rate increase; committee hears plan to pursue nearby City Electric property for advanced air mobility

Merrill Field managers told the Anchorage Assembly Infrastructure, Enterprise and Utility Oversight Committee on May 31 that they will propose a roughly 10% across‑the‑board rate increase for fiscal 2026 covering land leases, aircraft tie‑downs and long‑term vehicle parking, and that the airport is evaluating purchase or lease of the nearby City Electric property to host advanced air mobility infrastructure.

The proposal, presented by Merrill Field Director Earl Malbus and Deputy Director Amy Garcia, was introduced for committee awareness; Malbus said “we are proposing a 10% increase across the board on the, for the, land leases and also, increase the tie downs for the aircraft, 10% as well.” He told members a formal written proposal and line‑item budget will be provided to the assembly.

The rate discussion centers on a multi‑year pause in annual adjustments. Malbus said the current land‑lease rate is 24¢ per square foot and that, had annual CPI adjustments been applied over six years, the rate would be about 39¢ per square foot; he said airport staff judged that CPI would be “too…