Hancock County approves FY2025 amendment tied to airport losses, eyes property sales and FAA grant

The Hancock County Board of Supervisors on June 16 approved a FY2025 budget amendment that officials said reflects revenue shifts tied to a recent runway outage and changing port activity.

Blaine DuPontein, introduced to the board as representing Fort Harbor, presented amendment 2 and asked the supervisors to approve port and harbor claims. Board records list amendment 2 at $66,105,010; DuPontein said the amendment represents a net increase in the county’s overall budget of $430,261. He said a runway failure earlier in the fiscal year depressed fuel flow, and that a $2.4 million reduction in charges for services at Port Bienville contributed to the adjustment while a roughly $400,000 increase from certain real‑tax credit sales partially offset reductions.

"So amendment 2 reflects that decrease," DuPontein said, explaining the combined revenue and expense changes that led to the request.

The board carried the motion to adopt the amendment unanimously (5–0).

DuPontein also told the board staff is working to close on a vacant industrial property described in the meeting as the "trash doctor" site and to market it for new tenants, a move officials said is intended to create local jobs. He said the county is negotiating a purchase and sale agreement and hopes to close late in the week of the meeting.

Separately, DuPontein said staff expects to add an anticipated FAA construction grant of about $1.9 million to a future amendment (amendment 3) to reflect capital projects planned for 2026.

Routine financial items were approved alongside the amendment. The board also spread payroll and claims and handled multiple personnel and contract approvals in the same session. The meeting record shows the board adopted the budget amendment and related motions by unanimous votes.