County hears $7.7 million estimate, $650,000 state appropriation and unclear city commitment for joint hangar

County staff told commissioners that a "worst-case" construction estimate for the proposed joint hangar is about $5.1 million for the building plus $2.6 million for site work, for a combined figure the staff described as roughly $7.7 million.

Lindsay, the county staff member presenting cost details, said the annual operating cost in the model is about $840,000. She and others explained grant and pro rata scenarios that would reduce the countys net exposure; staff noted a grant application could cover up to $1.5 million of site work in an optimistic scenario.

Commissioner Justin Wagoner, county counselor, said the legislature included about $650,000 in the budget tied to the law-enforcement aircraft fund and that continuing or changing that transfer would require legislative action: "She indicated that any change to this funding, and I believe that means in future years, would require legislative action to either rescind the appropriation or eliminate the transfer." Wagoner and other commissioners emphasized that uncertainty in future appropriations increases county risk if the county bonds the project without stronger commitments from the city of Wichita or explicit long-term state language.

Commissioners discussed alternatives, including remaining at Cook Airfield on a $55,368 annual lease, recent Cook improvements (instrument approach, runway widening) and the possibility of acquiring land at Cook to own rather than lease. No binding financial commitment from the city or a signed state contract was presented in the meeting; staff was asked to pursue MOUs and LOIs and return with more concrete cost-sharing language before formal bonding.