REGIONAL APPROACH TO THE GOVERNANCE AND FUNDING FOR THE CAPITAL CITY AIRPORT AUTHORITY

The Board of Commissioners approved a resolution proposing a comprehensive review of the governance and funding structure of the Capital Region Airport Authority. Although the Capital Region Airport serves the entire tri-county region of Ingham, Clinton, and Eaton counties, it has been governed and financed by City of Lansing and Ingham County taxpayers since the early 1970's. With the 2000 census now completed, it is clear that population and wealth continues to gradually move out of Lansing and Ingham County and into neighboring Clinton and Eaton counties.

"In light of the economic challenges facing our region, and the challenges facing the airline industry, now is an appropriate time for all of us in the region to assess the worth of the regional airport, and to consider how it should be governed and financed in the future," stated Commissioner John Czarnecki, Chair of the Ingham County Board of Commissioners. "For far too long, the taxpayers in Ingham County have shouldered the burden of an airport which serves the entire Tri-County region."

The resolution authorizes Chairperson Czarnecki to take the necessary steps to begin the review. Chairperson Czarnecki envisions that the first step will be a meeting to which representatives of those entities most directly affected by the airport are invited. This would include representatives of the City of Lansing, Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties, including those municipalities most directly affected by the airport; Michigan State University; Lansing Community College; the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce; the Regional Economic Development Team; state legislators; a representative of the Executive Branch of state government, the Greater Lansing Labor Council, and the UAW.