Mount Airy'Surry County Airport Authority adopts budget, approves $2.53 million capital amendment for taxiway

The Mount Airy'Surry County Airport Authority on June 16 adopted its 2025-26 budget and approved a final capital project ordinance amendment for a partial parallel taxiway, increasing total appropriation for that project to $2,527,750.

At the airport authority meeting, staff reported that the proposed authority budget is approximately $986,763 for the 2025-26 fiscal year and that the budget reflects roughly a 1% increase over the prior year. The authority opened a public hearing on the budget, received no public comment, and adopted the budget.

The board also considered a capital project ordinance amendment described by staff as the last amendment to the partial parallel taxiway appropriation; the amendment makes the total appropriation $2,527,750 and was adopted by motion.

An airport representative gave a construction update on the new terminal building: "Our new terminal building, which is, 9500 square feet, which will also we're hoping to have a tenant of a restaurant along with we're excited to have our economic development team being there with us," the speaker said. He told the authority the terminal construction was "proceeding along very well" and that the authority expects building completion in October and to occupy the building by Thanksgiving, with parking and site work to follow.

The airport update also noted increased activity at the field: staff said fuel sales had risen about 35% over the prior year, and that the new terminal is expected to help draw larger aircraft, support tourism, and facilitate economic-development partnerships.

The authority set its next regular meeting for July 21, 2025, and adjourned the airport portion of the session before the county commission resumed its regular meeting.

The airport budget and the capital project ordinance amendment were adopted by recorded motion and voice vote during the airport authority meeting.