Commissioners and residents spent a significant portion of the Jan. 6 meeting debating finances and the future of the Lincoln County airport.

Commissioner Putnam raised concerns about long-term losses and accountability, saying recent figures show the airport has run in the red and that county taxpayers have subsidized operations. "This whole airport's kind of a joke. It needs to be revamped," Putnam said during commission discussion.

Commissioner Arons and others countered that airport operating deficits must be considered with capital-outlay costs. Arons noted that when capital outlay is included the shortfall widens and emphasized that federal grants typically fund a large share of capital projects. "When you include capital outlay ... that drops us down to about $250,000 in the red," Arons said, and added that the federal government often covers 90% or more of FAA‑eligible projects.

Dave Morris, representing the airport, described economic activity tied to the field — fuel sales, employment and hangar leases — and gave the commission a debt overview, saying the airport had approximately $1.9 million in debt, of which roughly $922,000 had been reimbursed by the federal government. Morris said development of roughly 20 acres received from the FAA could fund hangar construction after initial infrastructure (taxiway) work that would make private hangar development feasible.

Public commenters were sharply critical. Linda Montgomery asked for a full audit of airport finances and operations, saying "something stinks" and urging transparency about money and management. Scott Montgomery and others argued taxpayers should not subsidize hobby flying and questioned whether hangar owners primarily benefit from county support.

Commissioners discussed options including developing acreage to support hangar rent revenue, increasing lease rates and pursuing a plan intended to make the airport self-sustaining over a multiyear horizon. County staff warned that federal grant obligations and grant-assurance rules limit the county's ability to divest or sell the airport without repaying federal funds; commissioners said those constraints would factor into any disposal or transfer discussions.

No formal action (bonding, sale, or audit directive) was adopted at the meeting; however, several commissioners said staff will bring proposed strategies and financial projections to future meetings for board consideration.