ITD seeks $10 million spending authority for airport grants, aircraft maintenance and regional airfield equipment

The Idaho Transportation Department told JFAC it seeks authority to spend approximately $10 million in existing aeronautics fund cash for community airport grants and equipment repairs, including expensive aircraft engine work.

Director Scott Stokes said about $4 million comes from interest generated in the Strategic Initiative Aeronautics Fund and roughly $500,000 comes from aviation fuel tax receipts that have not been previously appropriated. The cash is in ITD accounts, he told the committee, and the request is chiefly spending authority to allocate those monies for grants and equipment.

"Any money that we can move forward to improve the community airports around the state, that's where we try," Stokes said. He described three primary uses: community airport grants, repair or replacement of an ITD airplane (engine replacement costs of roughly $800,000 per engine if required), and repairs to a maintenance facility near the airport.

Representative Horman pressed for return‑on‑investment metrics and which airports or equipment would be funded. Stokes said grants will be handled like other airport grant programs — awarded to community sponsors and reported to the legislature when completed — but that specific recipients and equipment choices depend on community project proposals and required airplane maintenance.

Committee members asked whether the requested spending authority is new cash. Finance staff and ITD said the cash is already in the aeronautics accounts and the request is primarily for authority to obligate and spend it for grants and equipment in the coming year.