Lancaster County council adopts airport capital plan that includes proposed hangar; funding gaps remain

Lancaster County Council on the motion of Councilmember Harper unanimously approved Resolution 13-13-R-2025 to adopt the Lancaster County Airport Capital Improvement Plan for federal fiscal years 2027–2031.

Airport staff advised the council that the plan shows a design phase in federal fiscal year 2026 and construction in 2027 for a new hangar. The proposal reflected a $900,000 allocation from the county's capital project sales tax and the use of FAA non-primary entitlement funds (a $150,000 annual allocation). County administration and airport staff said the $900,000 figure does not represent the full estimated project cost; earlier estimates discussed in the meeting ranged from about $1.25 million up to $2.0 million.

Councilmembers asked for clarification on how many aircraft the hangar would hold, whether the hangar would generate revenue and where the balance of funds would come from if construction costs exceed the $900,000 allocation. Airport staff said design work has not started and that the $2.0 million figure was an initial, high-level estimate; they identified potential additional sources including state aeronautics funds, other local sources or additional FAA funding but said no commitments have been identified. County Administrator Dennis Marshall stressed the estimate will be refined when design and engineering are completed.

Councilmembers also pressed for information on projected revenue and return on investment tied to the hangar; staff said the project is considered a revenue-generating project for FAA participation purposes but that the county has not yet produced detailed revenue projections and should do so during planning.

The resolution adopting the FAA-required five-year CIP does not itself obligate the county to construct the hangar. Councilmembers noted that approval of the resolution would allow the county to submit the plan to FAA and keep funding options open while further design and budgeting work proceed.

Evidence: Council discussion with airport staff and county administration on the hangar cost estimates, FAA funding rules and the capital sales tax allocation.