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Federal representative: competition for appropriations is fierce; county will press on airport tower
Summary
Steve Carey, Kent County's federal legislative representative, told commissioners funding competition in Congress is intense and agreed to follow up on the status of the county's airport control tower request and other appropriations priorities raised by commissioners.
Steve Carey, who provides federal legislative support to Kent County, briefed the Policy and Operations Committee by phone and said federal appropriations remain highly competitive and narrow congressional margins complicate project wins.
Carey acknowledged commissioners’ concern that modest requests can be overlooked when larger projects compete for limited federal dollars and said he will continue to press appropriations offices and coordinate with county administration. “Competition is fierce,” he said, and he pledged to follow up on specific project statuses raised by commissioners.
Commissioner Bujak asked about a county priority for funding a new airport control tower; Carey said another firm has been involved on the airport's behalf but that he would coordinate with county administration and the airport to pursue the request more aggressively if the county directs him to do so.
Carey also heard questions about whether federal narrow margins slow decisions and whether smaller-dollar requests can succeed. He said narrow margins can slow decision-making and reiterated that he will provide follow-up answers and next steps to county staff.
The committee thanked Carey and Charlie for the update and moved back into business items; Carey agreed to check on individual project statuses and report back to county staff.
