CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An $8.5 million budget proposal is before the Yeager Airport Board.
The airport’s Finance Committee approved the 2016-2017 spending plan Tuesday which includes an airport fund of about $5.5 million and parking fund of just over $2.1 million.
The new budget does not include any costs related to the March 2015 hillside collapse.
“The slope failure has cost the airport millions of dollars, but it’s not reflected in the actual airport fund,” said Nick Keller, assistant director at Yeager Airport.
The costs to cleanup and repair the slope are placed in a separate construction fund, Keller said.
“Thankfully, we’ve been able to keep those expenses out of that and we have not raised any of the expenses to any of our tenants or to the airlines,” he said.
While constructing the new budget, Keller said they had to keep in mind how important it is to Yeager to attract airlines. He said they’re hoping to do more of that with this plan.
“Our goal is to continue to lower the cost for the airlines to do business here so we can maintain our current flights and attract new flights,” he said about lowering the landing fees and the terminal building rent by approximately 7 percent this year.
Keller said the budget also includes significant cuts to its staff due to the large amount of retirements.
Drilling began along Charleston’s Keystone Drive last month. Work to remove material off the road is set to begin June 27 is expected to last all summer.
“Eventually, the goal is by the end of this year to have Keystone Drive completely cleared and have it reestablished,” Keller said.
The full board will vote on the proposed budget at its meeting scheduled for June 29.
The new fiscal year begins July 1.