Commissioners discuss airport project list and clarify $296,000 fund origin

Collegedale commissioners on Feb. 3 asked for a formal presentation from an airport operator on economic impact and staffing and discussed the status and use of roughly $296,000 in funds allocated to airport projects.

A commissioner said community concern had arisen over spending taxpayer dollars from the General Fund and asked whether the $296,000 was drawn from property taxes. Staff and another speaker clarified the funds are sales-tax revenue recovered after an audit and discussions with Hamilton County/City of Chattanooga related to Lee Highway and the Chick-fil-A annexation. "So it's not property tax money we're funding this with. It's that tax revenue that you're mentioning," a commissioner said. Staff added the money was sales tax that had been due to the city and was resolved through intergovernmental accounting.

Commissioners discussed items on the airport project list, including a completed $70,000 terminal refresh and other work such as runway lights paid from the $296,000 fund. One commissioner referenced an earlier email from a staff member (Ron) saying about $79,000 had been spent out of the $296,000; commissioners asked staff to circulate and reconcile the project list and completed expenditures.

A commissioner requested that the airport operator, Jay, present a business plan to a workshop so commissioners can evaluate economic impact, expected staffing levels and related details before committing further funds.

Ending: Staff will circulate an updated project/expenditure list, invite the airport operator to present to a workshop and continue work through the project list and bidding process.