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ITD asks JFAC for $10 million spending authority for airport grants and equipment; aircraft repairs cited
Summary
The Idaho Transportation Department requested $10 million in spending authority for a governor’s initiative to fund community airport grants and equipment repairs, citing available interest and aviation fuel receipts. ITD said some aircraft need engine replacements of roughly $800,000 each.
The Idaho Transportation Department asked the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee for authority to spend up to $10 million tied to a governor’s initiative for airport grants and equipment, saying most of the cash is already in ITD accounts and that portions would fund community airport projects and expensive aircraft repairs.
During the Transportation Services Division review, Representative Ben Horman asked for details on which airports and what equipment the initiative would fund and about anticipated return on investment. Director Scott Stokes said the request is designed to funnel aviation‑related receipts and interest toward community airports and an equipment need within ITD’s aviation operations.
Stokes explained there are two primary sources for the requested spending authority: interest generated on the Strategic Initiatives Aeronautics Fund (about $4 million) and remaining aviation fuel receipts not previously appropriated. He said some aircraft in the department fleet will need expensive work: “Engine replacement, in the next 3 years... They're about $800,000 apiece.”
The committee also revisited a factual question about aviation fuel tax rates. Director Stokes provided the rates on the record: “it’s 6¢ and 7¢. I think the 6 is, jet fuel, 7¢ is avgas, but I might have those reversed,” and said diesel is taxed at 32¢ (the exact statutory breakdown was not read into the record by citation).
Stokes said the cash for the initiative “is in our account” and described the grants piece as operating similarly to existing community airport grant programs that ITD administers and reports to the Legislature at completion.
Representative Horman asked about return on investment and performance metrics; ITD said the grants would be administered under established grant processes and the department would report grant delivery and completion to the Legislature as it has with prior airport grants.
The committee did not take an appropriation vote during the hearing. Committee members asked for further detail on which airports would receive grants and performance metrics tied to any equipment replacements.
