Recently airport authority members attended both the Dodge County Commissioners meeting and the Eastman City Council meeting. They gave a presentation of the economic impact the airport, technical college and industries located at the airport are making to Eastman and Dodge County.
Then, they showed where the airport has an income of $487,000.00 per year. That money is brought in from fuel sales, hangar rentals, building leases and $12,000.00 from the county per year.
The authorities’ presentation showed where expenses cost $542,790.00. That leaves a deficit of $55,790.00. Expenses included fuel purchases, a note to Citizens Bank and Trust and salaries, insurance, utilities, etc.
The authority wants the city and county to increase the $1,000.00 per month the county is giving the authority to $6,000.00 per month.
Also, the authority told the commissioners and council that in the next 10 years, it will cost approximately $1.5 million to maintain the airport. They anticipate getting the majority of those funds from state and federal sources, but are asking that the city and county start setting aside $30,000.00 annually to pay what they believe will be the city and county’s part of maintenance.
The city and county are also currently paying approximately $129,000.00 per year each to Suntrust Bank on a $3 million note. That money was matching monies for state and federal grants to make runway and other improvements to the airport.
Heart of Georgia Regional Airport Authority members are Gene Dennis, Charles Williams, Jim Green, Jerry Bland and John Clements.
