Committee approves budget adjustment for Ithaca Tompkins Airport strategic business plan

Tompkins County's Facilities and Infrastructure Committee unanimously approved a budget-adjustment resolution for Ithaca Tompkins International Airport on Tuesday, allowing the airport to use fund-balance money to pay for a strategic business plan that crossed fiscal years.

The resolution (ID 13233) moves previously approved funds, which remained in the airport's fund balance after year-end, so the airport can pay for the strategic business plan study in the current fiscal period. Norma from county administration told the committee that the airport's unspent funds returned to fund balance and are now available to cover the invoice.

Norma said the county team had just received a final draft of the strategic business plan for internal review and that the committee should expect to see the plan "very soon," likely at next month's meeting. Committee members asked whether the airport had spent any of the nearly $200,000 program budget; Norma replied the contract amount "is just shy of 200,000" and that the funds had not yet been paid out and are being drawn from the airport fund balance.

The motion, moved by Legislator Mike Lane and seconded by Legislator Greg Mazzi, passed unanimously among members present.

Committee members also asked about early ridership and service numbers on a new Washington link; Norma said emplanements were "around 80% or a little better than 80%" in the early weeks.

Staff said the airport will present the strategic business plan draft to the committee at its next scheduled meeting once internal review is complete.