Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Airport topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Moses Lake Municipal Airport budget drops after lessee terminates lease; staff to seek state grant for runway work
Summary
Airport staff reported a 17.1% decrease in the airport's proposed budget after a major lessee did not renew, removing about $15,000 in revenue. Staff said they plan to apply for a Washington State Department of Transportation aviation grant for pavement maintenance and may seek a future budget amendment if a local match is required.
City staff told the council the Moses Lake Municipal Airport is a largely general-aviation facility and operates as a self-sustaining enterprise fund. Staff presented proposed 2026 airport revenues of $67,525 and proposed expenses of $59,437, a decrease of about 17.1% from the prior year.
Staff attributed the revenue drop mainly to one lessee who chose not to renew a lease on airport-owned buildings; staff said that lessee accounted for about $15,000 in revenue. To keep the enterprise fund balanced, the airport reduced planned expenses.
Airport staff said they intend to apply for a Washington State Department of Transportation aviation grant to support pavement maintenance of the runway. Staff said project completion would depend on receiving the grant because the airport does not have sufficient fund reserves to pay for the work without outside funding. If awarded, staff said a budget amendment would likely be needed in 2026 to use airport fund balance as the required local match.
Staff also reported several recent airport accomplishments: partial crack sealing on some taxiways, installation of new taxiway reflectors, updated six-year statewide capital improvement planning, and reduced irrigation in tie-down areas to conserve water and cut costs. Staff said they have a small-works contract in place for striping and hope to complete new striping in the coming weeks.
Questions from council members included whether the airport had received any awards (staff said no) and whether lease rates had been discussed; staff replied that commercial leases include CPI-based annual increases and some commercial leases have graduated increases negotiated previously.
Ending notes: staff said runway lighting replacement is proposed if budget allows and emphasized that the grant award will determine the timing and scope of pavement work and potential future budget amendments.
