Winnebago County committee advances proposed hangar-rate changes, forwards ordinance to facilities management

The Winnebago County Facilities Committee voted to move a proposed amendment to chapter 21 of the Winnebago County general code—containing proposed hangar and land-rental rate adjustments for the Oshkosh airport—to the Facilities Management Committee for further review.

The vote followed more than two hours of public comment and discussion on whether a market study commissioned by the county fairly reflects local conditions. "If you wanna come to the county board, have the documentation," Supervisor Steve Bender told the committee, urging tenants to collect evidence for later review. Several tenants said the consultantreport contained inaccurate comparables and flawed data; pilot and tenant Kyle Volts called the study "filled with dirty data" and urged repayment of the consultant fee if errors could be proven.

Why it matters: County staff and supervisors said the study was intended as a one-time realignment to bring hangar rents closer to market and to reduce taxpayer subsidy; opponents argued the airportis a community amenity and the study overstates appropriate comparables. Airport leadership told the committee that baseline budgeting had included a 12% Consumer Price Index adjustment and that some new hangar projects were funded with grants and county investment.

Key facts and next steps: The committee approved a motion to amend the county code and forward the ordinance to Facilities Management for a meeting scheduled Jan. 27 at 3:30 p.m. Airport staff said the E and F hangar project cost $4.3 million, was supplemented by $1.3 million in grant funding and included a $3 million county investment with an estimated 33-year payback under the rates used in the directorpresentation.

What supporters said: Several supervisors, including one who described a need to "reset" rates, said some hangars are subsidized by county taxpayers and that modest rate increases help cover operating costs. "We need to make sure that we're solid for the other 51 weeks," one supervisor said, noting the airport earns heavy seasonal revenue during the EAA event but runs as an enterprise fund the rest of the year.

What opponents said: Tenants and public commenters disputed the consultantcomparables and said quality and age of hangars should factor into rents. "We're just asking not to charge premium rent for below-average facilities," pilot Kyle Volts said, asking the committee to consider facility conditions and tenant investments before raising rents.

Formal actions recorded: The committee considered and voted on a postponement amendment (members agreed to shorten a proposed 90-day postponement to 60 days during deliberations) and ultimately voted to forward the chapter 21 amendment to the Facilities Management Committee. Members and staff asked that tenants and other stakeholders bring documentation and attend the Jan. 27 meeting to offer further testimony.

The Facilities Management Committee meeting to consider the forwarded ordinance is scheduled for Jan. 27 at 3:30 p.m.; committee members said they expect additional public input and possible amendments before any county-board action.