Impact of terminal will make county support worth it
The Williamsport Municipal Airport in Montoursville creates $66 million in annual economic impact and results in 253 jobs, with roughly 60 percent of its service business related.
The Lycoming County Commissioners are scheduled to decide next week whether those numbers are worthy of a $3 million allocation toward a $16.1 million terminal project at the airport.
The dilemma is a legitimate one.
The stated intent has been to use gas drilling impact funds for the allocation.
Commissioner Rick Mirabito correctly pointed out that there are many other areas for which those funds could be used, including the battle to end the heroin epidemic in the area or building a new Pre-Release Center for the county prison.
But unless the numbers from the state Department of Transportation Bureau of Aviation are wrong or a product of questionable political math – and we have no reason to believe they are – the airport terminal project fits the definition of a gas impact fee benefactor.
A modernized airport is desperately needed if the local air service is to remain competitive with others in the region, which have updated facilities in the past decade.
More air flight options from multiple airlines are needed to improve choice and rates for both individual customers and businesses locally. That can happen with a modern facility. It probable won’t happen without it.
There is need.
There is economic payback.
There is consumer benefit to the project.
It’s now or never for local air service.
More practical financial terms if available should be discussed.
But for the county to be a serious player regarding future air service, the commissioners need to approve the project or come up with another way to provide $3 million for it.