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ITD seeks $10 million authority for aeronautics grants and equipment; agency cites community airport needs and aircraft repairs
Summary
ITD told JFAC it wants $10 million in authority to award aviation grants and maintain department aircraft and facilities. Officials cited community airport projects, equipment repair or replacement costs and prior transfers into the state aeronautics account.
The Idaho Transportation Department asked the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee to approve $10 million in authority for aeronautics grants and equipment purchases, describing the funds as largely existing receipts and interest in the state aeronautics account.
Director Scott Stokes and staff said the money would be used to make grants to community airports across the state, support equipment repairs and potentially replace an ITD aircraft with a new engine if necessary. Stokes said interest from the Strategic Initiatives Aeronautics Fund and unappropriated aviation fuel tax receipts provide the source for much of the requested spending authority. He described community grant projects as slower to implement because they are community‑sponsored rather than ITD‑led designs.
Representative Horman asked for performance measures and a return‑on‑investment explanation; Stokes said grant projects are administered similarly to existing community airport grants (about $1 million per year historically) and ITD reports completions to the Legislature. On equipment, Stokes said ITD faces a choice to repair or replace an airplane engine estimated to cost about $800,000 apiece and that a maintenance facility near the airport also needs repairs.
Brooke Dupree noted that the State Aeronautics Fund receives revenue from aviation fuel and jet fuel taxes and from fees for use of the state fleet. Senator Hart earlier asked what the aviation and automobile fuel taxes were; Stokes replied, "it's 6¢ and 7¢. I think the 6 is jet fuel, 7¢ is avgas ... and then for gasoline, diesel is 32¢." (Director Stokes noted he might have reversed the 6¢/7¢ line during testimony.)
The governor recommended the enhancement consistent with ITD’s request and included $10 million for the governor’s initiative to support grants and equipment. Committee members asked ITD to provide project lists, expected equipment purchases and metrics the committee could use to evaluate ROI before final action.
