ITD seeks spending authority for airport grants and aircraft repairs; governor recommends $10 million initiative

Idaho Transportation Department officials told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee they plan to use aviation fuel tax receipts and interest earnings to support community airport grants and to cover equipment needs for state aviation operations.

Representative Horman asked which airports and equipment would be funded and what the return on investment would be for taxpayers. Director Scott Stokes said the airport grants are intended primarily for community (general aviation) airports—Blackfoot, Rexburg, Shelley and Bonners Ferry were cited as examples—and that ITD will operate a community grant program similar to prior airport-aid grants. Stokes told the committee approximately $4 million is available from interest earnings in the strategic initiatives aeronautics fund and additional aviation-fuel receipts remain unappropriated; those are the primary sources for community grants.

Stokes also said ITD has at least one aircraft that will require costly engine work in the next three years—engine replacements estimated at roughly $800,000 apiece—and that the governor’s $10 million grants-and-equipment recommendation would also cover expensive repairs or replacement of airplane equipment and a maintenance facility near the Boise airport.

Committee members asked for performance metrics and clearer reporting. ITD said it operates its grants like prior airport grant programs and will report delivery and completion. The department said it can provide more specific project and performance information once communities submit grant applications and the department finalizes prioritization.

No formal committee action was taken during the hearing; lawmakers asked ITD to provide a list of planned grants and proposed performance metrics for the proposed governor’s initiative before the committee considers spending authority.