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Laramie Regional Airport requests $250,000 from city as schedules and compliance grow
Summary
Airport finance manager Tammy Wick asked the council for an increased city contribution — $250,000 for the next biennium — citing expanded flight hours and staffing, FAA Part 139 compliance and technology requirements, cyber-insurance costs, and a roughly $54,000 revenue loss after UPS left local service.
Tammy Wick, finance manager for the Laramie Regional Airport, told the council on May 26 that the airport is seeking a $250,000 city contribution for the coming biennium, up from the $205,000 previously requested.
Wick said three primary factors drive the request: (1) expanded operations tied to a new early-morning commercial flight that increases required staffing hours, (2) FAA Part 139 requirements and related technology and cybersecurity costs (including recent TSA cyber inspections and insurance additions), and (3) revenue declines after UPS moved its local service to Cheyenne, which Wick estimated reduced airport revenue by about $54,000.
"We have to cover over 1,654 hours of additional staff time" for new flight schedules, Wick said, and noted other operating costs such as lighting and heating rise with longer hours. She also said the airport's economic-impact study estimated $38.5 million in annual economic activity and $1.5 million in associated tax revenue for the city and county.
Council members praised airport staff and asked clarifying questions; council did not vote on the request at the session but staff said the airport remains focused on becoming self-sustaining through business-park development and other revenue sources while still requesting transitional city support.
