Lower revenue, expenses ahead for Cedar Rapids airport budget

CEDAR RAPIDS - A proposed budget for The Eastern Iowa Airport projects lower revenue and expenses in the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The Cedar Rapids Airport Commission on Monday is expected to consider and approve a budget for fiscal 2012 that calls for total expenditures of $27.6 million, down 30.36 percent from $39.7 million in fiscal 2011. Total revenue is projected at $29.1 million, or 21.04 percent below the $36.9 million in revenue for fiscal 2011.

Operating revenue is expected to increase 7.9 percent to $13.7 million in the next fiscal year from $12.6 million in the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. The airport's operating revenue comes from licenses and permits, federal Transportation Security Administration reimbursement for an airport safety officer's support at the security checkpoint, charges for services, concession revenue and landing fees, and interest received on investments.

The airport does not receive any city or county property tax revenue.

Capital spending on machinery and equipment and controlled assets is budgeted at $123,500, which represents a decrease of $1,036,000 or 89.35 percent. The budget for fiscal 2011 included $1,117,500 for a new airport rescue and firefighting vehicle.

The capital spending budget for fiscal 2012 includes $39,500 for the purchase of a new public safety patrol vehicle to replace a 2006 model vehicle, $30,000 to rebuild a blower head for an airfield snowblower, $20,000 for a sanitary lift station pump at the west cargo building, $17,000 for a vehicle hoist for field maintenance, $9,000 for replacement personal computers and a new application server to support an online work order system for maintenance, and $8,000 for a new gate operator for an airfield gate to replace an obsolete unit no longer supported by the manufacturer.

The airport's proposed capital improvement program for fiscal 2012 totals $9.2 million, down sharply from $48.7 million in fiscal 2011. The latter included the final phase of complete reconstruction of the airport's main runway.

Capital improvements proposed for the next fiscal year include renovation of the terminal building, replacing 10 heat pumps, a new canopy and stairs connecting the terminal and short-term parking lot, updating the airport's master plan and developing a safety management system. Grants and airport funds will pay for the projects.