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ITD seeks authority to spend aviation receipts, proposes $10M in grants and equipment spending including aircraft repairs
Summary
ITD requested spending authority for aviation‑related receipts and asked JFAC to permit a $10 million governor’s initiative to support community airport grants, equipment and costly aircraft maintenance, officials said the cash largely exists in the aeronautics fund but reporting and project selection details will follow.
Idaho Transportation Department officials asked the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee for authority to spend aviation fund balances and to support a governor’s $10 million initiative for airport grants and equipment, including costly repairs to a state aircraft.
What ITD said: Director Scott Stokes explained that receipts in the state aeronautics fund come from aviation fuel taxes, jet/avgas taxes and fees tied to use of a state aircraft. He told the committee the department has roughly $4 million generated from interest on a Strategic Initiatives Aeronautics Fund and additional aviation fuel receipts available; the governor’s requested initiative authorizes roughly $10 million in grants and equipment spending.
Use of funds and equipment needs: Stokes said community airports around the state would be the primary recipients for grants, with the funding model similar to prior community airport grant programs the department runs. He also described a maintenance need for a department airplane with an upcoming engine replacement cost around $800,000 per engine; “we'll either have to do some repairs to that airplane or replace it,” Stokes said. ITD also mentioned a maintenance facility near the Boise airport that needs repairs.
Return on investment: Committee members asked about measurable ROI for the grants and equipment. Stokes said the grants would follow the department’s existing grant reporting and delivery practice and that the department can report completions for community grants as it has done for earlier strategic‑initiative airport work; he said ROI for aircraft maintenance is harder to frame and would require reporting arrangements.
Funding mechanics: The aeronautics fund is a dedicated fund supported largely by aviation fuel tax. Stokes noted a roughly $32 million prior general‑fund transfer to airports that ITD has been reporting on; he said roughly $4 million of interest and additional unappropriated aviation fuel receipts form the bulk of the current request and the money is in ITD’s cash balances.
Ending: Committee members asked for more specificity on which airports and equipment would receive grants and what metrics would measure returns; ITD said it would provide details and would operate the grants under its existing programs.
