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Arizona airport officials and managers urge restoration of $15.8 million swept from State Aviation Fund
Summary
Airport managers and the Arizona Airports Association told the Arizona State Transportation Board that a $15.8 million diversion from the State Aviation Fund stalled safety and pavement projects at dozens of small airports and risks losing federal matching dollars.
Airport managers and the Arizona Airports Association urged the Arizona State Transportation Board on Aug. 15 to press for restoration of $15,800,000 swept from the State Aviation Fund, saying the diversion halted safety and pavement work at dozens of small airports.
“When $15,800,000 was diverted, dozens of shovel ready projects lost all the resources to move forward,” Jacob Allen, speaking for the Arizona Airports Association, told the board. He said planned work included wind-cone replacement, taxiway rehabilitation and apron repairs at small regional fields that are now stalled.
The association and airport managers warned that delays raise safety risks and increase costs. Edward Rose, airport manager at Sedona Airport and president of the Arizona Airports Association, said the aviation fund is “user supported by aircraft licensing, aircraft fuel taxes, jet fuel excise taxes, flight property taxes, Grand Canyon revenue, and investment interest,” and called a sweep of those revenues “a disservice to airports.”
Speakers cited ripple effects on federal matching funds. Allen said the sweep would cause Arizona to lose “millions of federal dollars that will instead go to other states.” Allen and others asked the board to advocate for restoring the swept amount so projects that preserve pavement, drainage and basic safety infrastructure can proceed.
Safford Regional Airport manager Cameron Atkins said rural air service development is a related, unresolved issue: only 11 of Arizona’s 67 public-use airports currently have scheduled airline service, and several high-tourism destinations lack air service. He said a regional consortium has been formed to seek a state air service program and urged the board’s leadership.
Speakers provided cost and condition estimates. Allen said a preliminary statewide pavement-condition score was about 72% and that maintaining pavement statewide will cost “significantly more than $10,000,000.” Rose summarized the aviation fund’s three-year average revenue at “almost $33,000,000 per year.”
No board action was taken at the meeting; the comments were delivered during the public comment period. Several board members acknowledged the speakers and said staff would follow up.
Why this matters: Arizona’s airport network supports air ambulance, wildfire response, freight and tourism. Speakers said delaying routine projects reduces safety margins and can forfeit federal matching funds that depend on timely local matches.
