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Yellowstone Regional Airport asks Park County for $95,000 to cover one-third of projected deficit
Summary
YRA officials asked Park County commissioners for $95,000 in FY2026-27 — a one-third share of a $283,000 projected operating deficit — citing FAA staffing requirements, deferred maintenance, and an $81.9 million regional economic impact figure.
Representatives of Yellowstone Regional Airport asked Park County for $95,000 in the FY2026-27 budget to cover one-third of a projected $283,000 operating deficit.
Josh White, secretary of the airport—s Joint Powers Board, said the airport—s $1.69 million expense budget is dominated by personnel and benefits (about 67%) and constrained by FAA minimum-service requirements that limit how much the airport can reduce staffing. Aaron Buck, YRA director, described deferred maintenance of roughly $300,000 and use of airport reserves to cover shortfalls; the airport plans to share the shortfall among the city, county and airport reserves rather than rely solely on local taxpayers.
White cited a Wyoming economic-impact study that estimated YRA—s total economic impact to the Bighorn Basin at $81.9 million, and said the airport supports roughly 100 FTEs who live in Park County and about 20,000 airport tourists annually. He emphasized safety and health benefits, including medical transport and wildfire response, and noted the airport has used CARES Act funding in recent years to defer some requests.
Commissioners asked about the airport—s contingency/reserve balances (YRA reported roughly $2 million remaining in CARES/contingency/reserve funds, with proposals to designate $1,000,000 for reserves and $500,000 for capital match), the use of AIP (Airport Improvement Program) funds and the rationale for land-sales or borrowing for capital projects. YRA staff said they had deferred some maintenance and increased certain fees and that they had a leakage study showing primary users come from Cody and Powell.
The request will be considered as part of the county—s special-funding review and nearer the budget adoption timeline.
Representative quote: "A community without commercial air service is a stagnant community," Josh White said, urging commissioners to weigh economic and safety benefits when considering the request.
Next steps: commissioners said they would deep-dive budgets and consider YRA—s request alongside other special-funding asks when preparing the FY2026-27 budget.
