By Christin Nance Lazerus, Post-Tribune
cnance@post-trib.com
The Gary/Chicago International Airport should seek additional funding sources, from the county, Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority and the state to help foster its development into a regional hub, according to a fiscal monitoring report required by the state.
The report, completed by Philadelphia-based Public Financial Management, contrasts Gary with the Fort Wayne, Evansville and South Bend airports, which are governed with increased involvement from their counties.
"It should be noted that because smaller airports are rarely self-sufficient, many of the most important initiatives for GYY cannot be undertaken unilaterally by the airport, but require a cooperative solution from city, county, regional and state leaders who value the current service and future potential of GYY."
In May, the city of Gary, the airport and the Gary Stormwater Management District were granted temporary relief from new state property tax caps from the state's Distressed Unit Appeals Board. The airport received $259,632 in relief from the state board.
The report recommends that the airport should develop its role through projects like a planned runway extension before deciding whether to privatize the entire facility.
"Some of those we've started to implement in roundabout way, some we will explore in the very near future, and some may not be compatible due to federal aviation rules," said Airport Director Chris Curry.
Curry said the airport does contract out snow removal and lawn cutting service for areas that lay beyond the secure premises.
"We need people to be able to respond immediately, and you can assume increased costs just to have those people on standby," Curry said. "We will look at it and explore it because it was a recommendation."
The airport typically adjusts its fees, rental rates and service charges based on market rates, but they held steady this year due to the recession, Curry said.