LANSING – Airports in the state would receive state funding to help with repair and maintenance costs under legislation approved by the Senate on Thursday.
The bills (SB 418, SB 425, SB 426, SB 612, SB 613 and SB 614) would dedicate 2 percent of the sales tax on aviation fuel with to aviation purposes and split those funds, as well as the current 3 cents per gallon tax, between the Aeronautics Fund, overseen by the Aeronautics Commission, and the Qualified Airport Fund, which provides for capital projects at certain airports.
“This is a matter of fairness,” Sen. Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City), sponsor of most of the legislation, said in a statement. “The legislation makes sure Michigan’s airports – including those in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula – receive the needed funding for routine maintenance and repairs.”
The new fund would appropriate to the state’s airports via a formula based on volume of air traffic and resources used.
“As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, I’ve fought to secure additional dollars in this year’s budget for the airport improvement program to help support projects at our local airports,” Sen. Goeff Hansen (R-Hart), sponsor of SB 613, said. “Passage of this legislation will create a reliable, dedicated funding source for the State Aeronautics Fund that will ensure the continued safety and efficiency of Michigan’s aviation system.”
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