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Redmond airport projects expansion; staff say bond, grants and airline fees can cover terminal debt
Summary
Airport Director Zach Bass told the committee the airport can fund a planned $90 million terminal expansion with a mix of bond proceeds, competitive federal/state grants and airline fees and is also moving forward on a $16 million quick turnaround facility for rental‑car operations.
Redmond Airport Director Zach Bass presented the airport's FY 26-27 budget and laid out financing and operational plans for two major projects: a terminal expansion and a quick turnaround facility (QTA) for rental agencies.
Bass said projected airport revenue is about $26 million and that the airport has strong fund balances; he presented a funding plan that includes a proposed $90 million airport bond and roughly $17 million in competitive federal and state grants (ATP and Connect Oregon awards). "That $17,000,000 is competitive, and we competed for that $17,000,000 and we received it," Bass said, adding that taking grants allowed the airport to preserve cash on hand for other uses.
On the terminal: Bass said projected operating surpluses (excluding capital) and airline fee revenue would support the debt service on the terminal bond when payments begin in fiscal 27-28. He said airlines have agreed in principle to fee increases that would help fund roughly half of the terminal cost over time.
QTA and operations: The quick turnaround facility is estimated at about $16 million and will consolidate car-rental functions (car wash, detail bays, refueling and roughly 300 parking stalls). Bass said the facility will be funded with bonds and a customer facility charge paid by rental customers; he also described hiring five new airport FTEs to support terminal operations, procurement and facilities management.
Staff and committee questions focused on parking utilization, ARFF (airport firefighting) service costs and fuel‑flowage fee mechanics. Bass said parking revenue rose with fee increases but utilization dropped initially; management projects future parking expansion and expects ARFF costs to be separately budgeted.
