ITD seeks authority to spend aviation fuel receipts, interest on aeronautics fund for community grants and aircraft repairs

The Idaho Transportation Department asked the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee for authority to spend existing aviation-related receipts and interest to fund community airport grants and aircraft repairs, including possible engine replacements.

At the hearing, Senator Hart asked for the aviation fuel and automobile gas tax rates; Director Scott Stokes answered on the record that “it’s 6¢ and 7¢. I think the 6 is jet fuel, 7¢ is avgas” and that diesel is 32¢, noting he might have reversed the first two rates in his brief answer.

Committee members pressed ITD to specify which airports and what equipment would be funded and what the return on investment would be for taxpayers. Director Stokes said grant funds typically support community airports such as Blackfoot, Rexburg, Shelley and Bonners Ferry and that about $4 million of the requested initiative comes from interest earned on the Strategic Initiatives Aeronautics Fund, with additional unobligated aviation fuel receipts available for appropriation.

Stokes told the committee ITD also has state aircraft that will require major repairs or engine replacements in the near term, estimating engines cost “about $800,000 apiece,” and that some of the requested equipment funding would cover those costs or facility maintenance near the state airport. He said the grants would be administered like existing airport grant programs, which the department reports to the Legislature after completion.

The governor recommended language and an amount for a grants-and-equipment initiative; ITD said the cash is on hand but sought appropriation authority to obligate and spend it.