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Council asks staff to explore airport governance and options after cost and ownership concerns
Summary
Councilors asked staff and Airport Authority to evaluate whether consolidating airport ownership (county, port or a district) would improve governance and relieve overlapping tax burdens. Airport and authority leaders described revenue streams (parking, leases), outstanding lease reconciliations, and the need for external grant funding to regain lost air service.
Several Lewiston councilors on March 2 urged staff to explore options for consolidating airport ownership and governance amid concerns that multiple sponsors complicate decision-making and place substantial financial strain on local taxpayers.
Councilors said the city's decision not to proceed with a prior airline arrangement had frustrated some airport stakeholders, and one councilor encouraged a conversation with county commissioners to examine whether ownership or operational responsibilities might better rest with a single sponsor such as the county, a port authority, or a special airport district.
Airport Authority Chairman Gary Peters traced the authority’s origins to a desire for clearer accounting and independence for FAA grant assurances, and said the authority is open to working with sponsors on governance options. Airport Director Mike Isaacs said the airport recently needed sponsor assistance (about $353,000 this year) after several years where grants covered most capital needs. He described current lease arrangements (the city's golf-course lease now estimated near $80,000–$85,000 annually), outstanding bookkeeping cleanups for Airport Park/Hathaway Park, new storage-lot revenue opportunities, and ongoing efforts to parcel and market remnant airport properties.
Finance Director Amy Gordon said proceeds from property sales would typically be treated as general revenue unless restricted by the original funding source; she advised staff will research constraints on dedicating sale proceeds to programs such as the cemetery fund. Airport and council members noted that attracting and retaining commercial air service typically requires larger, dedicated funding streams (for marketing or revenue guarantees) and that other jurisdictions have used state or federal packages to incentivize carriers.
Council asked staff to schedule a meeting with county commissioners and airport sponsors to explore options and report back.
