Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Aeronautics Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
ITD seeks $10 million in aviation grants and equipment spending authority; director outlines fuel‑tax receipts and aircraft repair needs
Summary
The governor recommended $10 million in aviation grants and equipment spending authority; ITD told JFAC funds would support community airport grants, equipment and an aircraft engine replacement program funded from aviation fuel tax receipts and interest earnings.
The Idaho Transportation Department and its aeronautics program asked JFAC for authority to spend about $10 million that the department said is available in the aeronautics account from aviation fuel tax receipts and interest.
Director Scott Stokes and Ms. Brooke Dupree described the intended uses as community airport grants, equipment replacement and maintenance of ITD’s state aircraft. Dupree and Stokes said roughly $4 million of the requested package comes from interest earned on a Strategic Initiatives Aeronautics Fund; roughly $500,000 is remaining aviation fuel tax receipts available for appropriation.
Why it matters: Many Idaho communities rely on state grants for maintenance and improvements of general aviation airports (for example, Bonners Ferry, Shelley, Blackfoot and Rexburg). Stokes told the committee that grant funds would be distributed similarly to existing airport grant programs and that ITD reports completions for grants it administers.
Specific equipment needs cited
- Aircraft engines: Stokes said engine replacements could cost about $800,000 each, and ITD must either repair aging aircraft engines or replace aircraft within a multi‑year window.
- Maintenance facility repairs and equipment purchases: The department cited repairs to a maintenance facility adjacent to the Boise airport and other equipment needs at smaller airports.
Fuel taxes and revenue: During questioning Senator Hart asked for the aviation fuel tax rates; Director Stokes gave approximate figures in the hearing, saying aviation fuel taxes are 6¢ and 7¢ (he said he might have the two fuel types reversed during the live exchange) and that gasoline and diesel motor‑fuel taxes are 32¢ per gallon. The committee asked ITD and the Legislative Services Office to provide precise statutory citations and exact fee/rate tables in follow‑up.
Return on investment: Representative Horman asked about performance metrics and return on investment. Stokes said the grant program would be administered like past community airport grants, with project completion reporting; for aircraft engine replacement or repair, he said ITD would need to propose reporting metrics for aircraft maintenance decisions.
Where things stand: The governor recommended the request; committee members asked for specificity on which airports and projects would receive grants and for performance metrics that would demonstrate return on investment.
