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ITD seeks authority to spend aviation fund balances for community grants and aircraft repairs
Summary
ITD presented a governor‑recommended initiative to the budget committee seeking $10 million in spending authority for aeronautics grants and equipment, including large aircraft engine repairs and community airport projects funded from aviation fuel tax receipts and interest.
The Idaho Transportation Department told JFAC it is seeking authority to spend available aviation fund receipts and interest to support community airport grants and aircraft maintenance.
Brooke Dupree summarized the department’s aeronautics funds and said the governor recommended $10 million for a “governor’s initiative for grants and equipment.” Director Scott Stokes explained that the aviation fund receives revenue from aviation fuel taxes and that much of the proposed spending would be routed to community airport grants and to equipment or aircraft repairs the department must make.
Stokes told the committee the department faces imminent maintenance choices for state aircraft, including engine replacements “in the next 3 years” that run “about $800,000 apiece.” He said roughly $4 million of available funding comes from interest on earlier strategic initiatives funds and that additional unobligated aviation fuel tax receipts contributed to the balance.
Representative Horman asked for performance metrics tied to the governor’s initiative and whether the department could provide return‑on‑investment estimates. Stokes said grant projects are executed like the department’s other community grant programs and that the agency reports completion of those grants; he said ROI for an aircraft maintenance decision would require a different analysis but that the department would report on delivery where feasible.
No specific airports or precise equipment lists were presented at the hearing; ITD staff said community airports around the state — including smaller, general‑aviation fields — would be typical grant recipients. The committee did not take a vote on the recommended language or the $10 million during the session.
