No remonstrance filed over airport authority move

The plan to establish an airport authority to govern the Putnam County Airport will officially take effect on Jan. 1, 2014.

The airport authority, which takes the place of the current board of airport commissioners (BOAC), was approved by the Putnam County Council at its October meeting, but a 30-day remonstrance period followed by state law.

That time, in which voters could file a petition objecting to the authority and the new tax accompanying it, expired on Friday, Nov. 15, leaving no hurdles to clear.

The property tax associated with the airport authority is expected to be approved by the State of Indiana in the range of 2.5 to 2.8 cents per $100 of assessed value.

While new taxes are certainly not popular, Clerk Marty Watts reported only one citizen coming to her office to inquire about the measure.

BOAC president J.R. Scott said he also talked to the woman in question, who said she understood the need, but simply objected to a new tax.

The major difference between the two models is in funding sources. As a BOAC, the money to fund the airport comes from the county general fund.

As an airport authority, the money will come from a separate, independent fund -- thus the need for a new tax.

The change should increase the level of funding to the airport, as well as giving the board more oversight of its own money.

With no airport tax drawn for the current year, 2014 will exist as a transitional year in which the airport authority exists, but funding still comes from county general.

Although the authority will replace the BOAC, all five current members -- Scott, Rex Eaton, Perry Wainman, Duane Skoog and Vern Bothwell Jr. -- are interested in serving on the new board.

The Putnam County Commissioners will choose the five-member panel before the end of 2013.