MTAA details infrastructure work, new hangar push and plan to bring commercial flights to Topeka

Curtis Snead, chair of the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority, told the Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners on March 10 that the authority is pursuing a series of infrastructure and business-development projects at Philip Billard Airport and Topeka Regional Airport (Forbes) aimed at boosting activity, attracting high-tech tenants and restoring commercial air service to Topeka.

The MTAA oversees Topeka Regional Airport (Forbes), the Topeka Regional Business Center industrial park and Philip Billard Airport. Snead described recent investments and near-term projects including new fuel farms at both airports, taxiway rehabilitation at Forbes to meet safety standards, perimeter fencing at Billard and a proposed 80,000-square-foot maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hangar at Forbes.

"We're positioning ourselves in a unique way once we get that hangar built," Snead said, describing ongoing talks with an international firm that could locate operations in Topeka if financing is secured. The authority is pursuing a mix of state funding, bonding and private dollars to finance the hangar, he said.

The MTAA reported tenant-driven growth at Philip Billard Airport, where a new terminal and a fixed-base operator (FBO) have boosted transient traffic and military visits. Snead said an existing tenant plans to convert an old terminal into a flight academy and build an adjacent hangar, and that a tenant expanded the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operation, attracting out-of-town aircraft for work.

Snead said the MTAA is also being deliberate about rental rates in its industrial park and has increased leasing revenue, describing about 196 acres of shovel-ready land west of the airport and roughly 400 acres nearer the airfield that could support future development.

On commercial air service, Snead said the MTAA is focused on point-to-point carriers rather than network carriers, and is targeting routes to Orlando, Phoenix or Las Vegas based on market data showing strong demand. "We fully intend to remove ourselves from that list" of capital cities without air service, Snead said, adding the authority has a marketing plan and is pursuing community support and grant funding to underwrite a minimum revenue guarantee.

Commissioners pressed MTAA staff on the authority's tax and bonding authority. Commissioner Cook asked what the MTAA considers when setting its mill levy and whether commissioners have control over that levy. Snead and Mike Munson, an MTAA board member, said the authority seeks to reduce reliance on property tax by increasing lease revenue and noted legal caps and statutory thresholds govern mill-levy and bonding actions. Munson said the MTAA reported roughly $330,000 over budget on leasing revenue in the most recent period, which he cited as evidence of progress toward reducing levy reliance.

The MTAA noted a $2.5 million to $3 million range for a minimum revenue guarantee commonly required by airlines considering new service, and said the authority intends to pursue a Small Community Air Service Development-type grant and local pledges to meet that standard. Snead added that rising airline costs at Kansas City International could make Topeka a lower-cost option for some carriers.

Commissioners also asked about hangar conditions, T-hangar renovations at Billard, and why a perimeter fence does not include a Kansas Highway Patrol hangar; MTAA staff said the KHP parcel is state-owned and outside MTAA property. On industrial space, MTAA staff said most buildings are leased and cited the 196 shovel-ready acres and a larger 400+ acre tract as development opportunities.

Why it matters: The authority's work affects county property-tax obligations (it levies a mill levy), industrial development options and the county's ability to attract and retain aviation-related employers. Financing decisions such as bond issuances and any local revenue guarantees for airline service would require additional approvals and affect the county's fiscal picture.

What’s next: MTAA said it will continue to pursue state and federal partners for the hangar financing, solicit community support for airline recruitment, and advance property improvements. Commissioners requested continued updates and noted state-level property-tax discussions could change local funding dynamics.