Kootenai airport seeks leasing specialist as fuel and lease revenues climb

Patterson, the airport director, presented the FY27 airport budget to the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners on June 12, 2026, emphasizing that the airport operates on user fees and does not draw on county tax dollars.

The director provided a snapshot of airport activity — about 1,200 acres, roughly 265 based aircraft, and 175 ground leases — and reported steadily rising fuel flow and 100LL sales. Patterson said larger business aircraft and increased fuel sales are driving revenue increases; the FY27 revenue projection includes roughly $1.6 million from rents and leases and total projected FY27 revenues of about $2.4 million.

To handle growth in leasing and the spike in lease transactions (the director said lease volume could exceed 100–125 transactions next year), the airport proposed funding a leasing and contract specialist for six months of FY27 staffing as a phased hire prior to the busy season. Patterson said the office is at capacity: "we're running people at 150% right now just to keep up with demand," and the new hire would help speed lease processing and revenue capture. The airport also plans to absorb its own health‑insurance and step increases for staff in FY27 (about $38,000), rather than have the general fund cover those costs.

Patterson walked through expense reductions and increases tied to firefighting gear, vehicle maintenance (newer fleet requires less repair), and an escalator clause in an air‑traffic control agreement that was built into projections. Board members asked for more explicit trend graphics that match revenue drivers to staffing requests; Patterson agreed to provide clearer year‑over‑year comparisons showing where fuel flow, lease numbers and based aircraft drive the need for new staff.

Next steps: staff will provide supplemental materials showing historic revenues and lease transaction trends to better justify the proposed staffing addition and timing.