Saint Cloud Regional Airport Authority briefed Sherburne County on finances and possible levy; board requests joint meeting with counties and city

The Sherburne County Board of Commissioners heard an update from the Saint Cloud Regional Airport Authority on operations, capital projects, revenue initiatives and budget pressures, and asked staff to set up a joint conversation with regional partners.

Airport representatives — board appointee Brian Myers, at-large board member Angie Olsen and Airport Director Bill Towel — summarized recent investments and new revenue sources: a new T-hangar and private hangar development, approach lighting and instrument landing system upgrades funded by a mix of FAA, state and local bonding, and ongoing pursuit of revenue from parking, hangar rentals and other airport-generated sources.

"We have $2 million in the bank, but our operating revenues are constrained by fixed contributions that are not inflation-adjusted," Towel told the commissioners. The airport authority described a long-term funding profile that includes a city commitment of $620,000 annually (not inflation-adjusted), FAA capital funds and a $200,000 local-option sales tax allocation for capital through 2038. Airport staff said inflation has eroded purchasing power and left the authority with operating shortfalls.

Authority leaders said they had considered, and later deferred, a formal levy request for the current year but provided an example of what an earlier draft levy would have looked like: a combined operating and capital request that the authority estimated would have translated to roughly $6.30 annually on an average home in the three-county service area. "That was an example of what we were looking at," the authority said during the presentation.

Commissioners pressed for improved communications and oversight procedures before any levy attempt. County legal and administrative staff explained the statutory process for airport authority levies: an airport authority has levy authority under Minnesota law and must follow statutory notice and tax-reporting steps; sherburne county staff urged closer coordination and written agreements to define services and responsibilities between the authority and partner governments.

After extended discussion, the board voted to direct the county administrator to arrange a joint meeting that includes representatives from Stearns County, Benton County, the City of Saint Cloud and the Saint Cloud Regional Airport Authority. The motion named two commissioners to start discussions and invited the city to participate; the board agreed to consider two county commissioners as representatives and to return to the board for any formal appointments or ex-officio roles.

Ending: Commissioners said they want more robust communications with the authority and partner entities, clarified that the county will continue to monitor authority finances and appointed staff to schedule and lead a joint meeting to discuss governance, shared services and any levy-related procedures.