Recently, Local News 8 reporter, Stephanie Hale-Lopez, visited Rigby Jefferson County Airport to see first hand the impact a proposed $100 per-flight user fee would have on local businesses that rely on general aviation. For local businesses such as Visser Ag Inc., a $100 user-fee would leave their operation with a large bill. According to Brandon Visser, “It consists of a $100 take-off fee and we average about three take-offs per hour, so based on last year’s numbers it would be around $400,000 burden on our business.”
Governor Otter joins a growing list of state and local officials who have reached out to President Obama and his Administration, calling on them to protect general aviation. Earlier this year the Alliance released letters from Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin (R) and New Hampshire Governor John Lynch (D), calling on President Obama and his Administration to protect general aviation. In addition, over 100 Mayors from 48 states signed-on to a letter, expressing their concerns on proposed new tax burdens that would decimate small businesses and organizations around the country that depend on general aviation. Across the country the industry supports over 1.2 million jobs and generates over $150 billion in economic activity.