Commission approves $30,000 airport fuel appropriation after extended debate over costs and county benefit

Benton County commissioners voted to appropriate $30,000 to the airport’s budget to cover a shortfall in aviation fuel, after an extended debate over the airport’s operating results and its value to economic development.

Mayor Mark Ward and airport staff told the commission the airport has seen unusually high fuel sales and that some past grant-match funds had been reconciled and returned to the county. Mayor Ward said the airport’s sales and recent deposits make it one of the busiest periods in the airport’s history and argued the county must maintain the facility to attract industry and support county services.

Rita, an airport staff member, described recent grant accounting and inventory timing and told commissioners that some of the money in the appropriation would pay contractors and cover inventory timing while sales deposits clear the trustees’ accounts.

Several commissioners questioned whether the airport should receive county operating subsidies, noting that some operational lines show substantial spending and expressing concern about net operating losses even when grants support capital projects. Commissioners discussed alternatives, including seeking a fixed-base operator (FBO) to run the facility and re-evaluating whether the airport’s operating model should be different.

After discussion, the appropriation passed on a roll-call vote. The meeting record shows commissioners asked for more detailed budget breakdowns and for future discussion to compare county accounting practices to peer counties.

The vote will allow the airport manager to place orders before procurement deadlines; commissioners were told purchase deadlines for fuel and procurement commonly require action before the next monthly meeting.