The Chattanooga Airport Authority has bamboozled the public in pure financial speculation with taxpayer dollars. Shame on you fellows for omitting very pertinent information.
In 2010, the Airport Authority marketed the need for a new general aviation facility as a cost savings measure with public funds.
The initial description was a 90 percent grant from the state of Tennessee, and a local match of 10 percent. The Airport management claimed this new general aviation facility would be constructed for $10 million, and save millions.
At the same time, the aviation services were being provided by the private sector, TAC Air, which now has to compete with the new government subsidized aviation facility that is operating in the red.
Dave Ivey, Wilson Air's vice president, actually stated to news sources that the competition is intense, and that the end user is reaping the benefits of competition. When is it appropriate for taxpayers to fund Mr. Ivey’s in the red operation to harm TAC Air or the private sector that already provides the services?
Mr. Ivey calls being taxpayer subsidized as fair competition. That is ridiculous, TAC Air does not have an in the red bailout provision for $300,000 in the red. How the heck is that fair?
Today, the Airport Authority dares to announce that they anticipated the loss of $300,000, just from July through November 2011, and losses for an estimated five years. It is simply outrageous that they failed to disclose or mention any known loss period while marketing the new, Wilson Air Facility, to the public.
This project was marketed to the taxpayers as cost savings. The real cost is the 10 percent match plus years of operating in the red. Not my words, rather the Airport Authority acknowledged a five year loss period. They never disclosed the red period to the public in the marketing phase.
Why did the Airport Authority fail to disclose the real costs of this project? They have essentially derailed a private business, TAC Air on the taxpayer dime.
April Eidson
aprile@comcast.net
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It's not about whether or not Wilson Air makes money - its about government competing with private business - same problem I have with EPB.
Gregg Juster