Weston County commissioners voted to create an airport operations account to hold revenue from hangar leases and related airport receipts, county staff said.

County staff and planning-board representatives told commissioners they had consulted Paul with the state auditor’s office and discussed options for handling airport income. The group said they preferred a voucher-style contingency or reserve account—recorded as a budget line—rather than an unrestricted checking account. Under the plan, lease income would be deposited into the designated account; when the airport needs to spend money for an unbudgeted repair or expense, the airport would submit a voucher and commissioners would authorize the expenditure or a budget adjustment.

County finance staff explained the mechanics: receipts would be recorded in the county ledger under a unique account number and shown in collections; the board would make a budget adjustment to place unanticipated collections into the airport line; and any draw on the account would require a voucher and the usual approval processes until the next formal budget cycle. Staff said the arrangement mirrors how the county manages other reserves such as the fuel‑tank account and the recently created fairgrounds wall line item.

Planning-board representatives said they plan to seek a letter from the City of Newcastle acknowledging that airport receipts will be deposited into the county account and asking that the city receive regular reports showing deposits and expenditures. Commissioners and staff also discussed whether the fund should be established as a sinking fund—restricted to a single identified purpose—or as a more general airport reserve; staff said a sinking fund requires earmarking but a reserve/operations line can be set up and tracked beneath county reserves.

At the meeting a board member moved to create an airport operations account structured like the county’s fuel‑tank reserve; the motion was seconded and put to voice vote. The board chair called the motion; commissioners recorded their assent by voice and the motion passed.

Commissioners and staff emphasized that, from the time the account is opened until the formal budget process, any use of the funds will be accompanied by a voucher presented to the board. Once the next budget cycle is complete the account’s balance will be incorporated into the airport’s budget line and routine voucher procedures will continue.

The action is intended to let the county hold and track airport receipts in one place so funds can accumulate for future repairs or match requirements rather than being used immediately or carried informally by staff.