The Rexburg City Council approved a budget adjustment to allow the city to contract with a consultant to advance the planned relocation of the Rexburg airport. Staff said the consultant would help with land acquisition, coordination with federal agencies (FAA and BLM), grant pursuit and planning work needed to move the relocation forward.

Why it matters: The airport relocation is a multi‑year effort involving federal grants, state funds and local matching dollars. Staff told the council that Fund 48 has been built up over years by annual city and county contributions and that using those carryover dollars for consultant work would reduce the fund balance; staff estimated the carryover would fall to roughly $17,000 by the end of the current fiscal year if the consultant is hired. If the consultant role continues in future years, the city and county would need to increase their annual subsidy to the fund.

Council discussion and intent
Public Works Director Keith Davidson told the council the airport board supports moving the project ahead and that the relocation would address safety and operational limits at the current site. “They feel like this would be beneficial for the future of our community to have the airport relocated,” Davidson said, describing hangar owners’ reluctance to invest at the current site while relocation remains the priority.

The approved budget covers a consulting contract on an initial 1‑year term; staff said they would develop a scope of work, present a contract to the airport board and return to city council and the county commissioners for contract authorization. The consultant is expected to report regularly to the city’s public works director and the airport board.

Financial implications
Staff explained the financing structure: federal grants often cover a majority of construction costs for airport projects, the state has earmarked funds for land acquisition, and the city and county share remaining local matching requirements. Councilmembers were told the city’s annual subsidy to the airport construction fund would likely need to increase if the consultant position continues after the first year to maintain the planned project schedule.

Next steps
City staff will prepare a consultant scope and contract for review by the airport board and for formal council and county approval. The consultant will focus on grant coordination, land‑acquisition planning and stakeholder engagement; staff expects the consultant to provide periodic progress reports to the council.