Majane/Kalispell AirportGentlemen,
I am concerned over the prospect of your city closing your municipal
airport without taking in account the positive impacts it has on your
community.
First and foremost the recent natural disaster in Haiti should give you
pause. It is clear that in times of crisis the access to an airport near
the center of an event brings help quickly and efficiently to the
residents of the area. Without the airport there may long delays in
bringing in much needed help to your community.
Airports generate business and therefore tax revenue to your community
to fund services for the citizens. Many of these impacts are unseen such
as companies and individuals that utilize aircraft to enhance their
business that have located to your community because of the airport. If
the facility is closed they will be forced to leave taking their jobs
and revenue to the community elsewhere. Some are easily identifiable
such as the 30 or so individuals that have jobs that are directly tied
to the airport. Some are not but they are there. If the airport is
closed these people will no longer pay taxes and due to the current
economic environment they will most likely become a burden on the city
and state effectively tripling the negative impacts of closing the
facility.
The airport is revenue neutral which is a major advantage to Kalispell.
Many municipalities believe that the positive economic impact of an
airport to the community outweighs the direct cost of their airports and
support them with taxpayer funds.At Kalispell you have the unique
situation where you realize the positive economic impact on your
community without a substantial out lay of funds to support it.
When deciding the fate of the facility these things need to be taken
into account. I believe that an unbiased review of the airport and it's
impacts on the community will lead you to a decision to not only keep
but to expand the facility and create more opportunity for economic
growth for your city.
John A Majane III PE
Germantown, Maryland