Local Impact: Cuts in federal funding for airports

In the following question-and-answer section, Broome County Commissioner of Aviation Carl R. Beardsley Jr. discussed what a cut in Airport Improvement Program funding would mean to the Greater Binghamton Airport.

He noted that this is the second consecutive year that cuts to the program have been proposed.

Last year, Congress successfully worked to restore full funding for the program, he said.

Question: How much AIP funding has the Greater Binghamton Airport received over the years?

Answer: Over the past three years, the airport has received about $7.4 million in AIP funding.

Question: What has been done with that money?

Answer: Important safety and security improvements, such as the Runway Rehabilitation Project, the passenger boarding bridges installation, snow removal and emergency response equipment purchases, and improvements to our emergency response facilities.

Question: What projects would be left unfinished or delayed if funding is cut?

Answer: All construction projects that are under way are fully funded and would not be impacted should this funding reduction occur.

Question: Would a cut affect the airport's ability to attract other types of funding, such as local grants?

Answer: This would not affect our ability to attract other grants.

Question: Is the airport or county doing anything to prevent these cuts from going through?

Answer: We are working through airport industry groups including the New York Aviation Management Association (NYAMA) and the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) to stress the importance of maintaining the funding levels of the program.

Congressional support from the offices of Sens. Schumer and Clinton is vital to this program as well.

Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin