Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission members expressed concern about a $3 million withdrawal from the agency’s revolving fund by the Legislature. The agency’s revolving fund was one of several lawmakers tapped for funds to appropriate for fiscal year 2015.
Aeronautics Commission Executive Director Vic Bird noted the agency was the only one from which money was taken that does not receive appropriated funds. He said the general appropriations bill was drafted without input from the commission and the agency received no notice the money would be taken.
More than 90 percent of the commission’s funding comes from the excise tax on aircraft sales. By statute, that revenue is dedicated to the commission for the maintenance of aerospace infrastructure across the state.
The most disturbing thing I would have stressed to the Legislature is the nature of our funding – It comes from our users, the aerospace community across the state,” Bird said.
There are 110 public airports that comprise the state’s air transportation system
