COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Due to a pair of unexpected expenses that wiped out a fund balance, the Branch County Memorial Airport is seeking an additional $15,000 contribution from the county in the 2020 Branch County budget.
The original request was over $74,000. Airport Manager Joe Best said the request would bring to over $89,000.
He told the Branch County Board of Commissioners during their work session Friday there were two unexpected expenses during the past year. One was a taxiway from the main runway to the fuel barn that had cracks in it which has generated complaints from Clemens about a hazard to the front nose wheel of their planes. Elite Air Services also said people weren’t coming into the airport because of the cracks.
Best said the repairs to the taxiway cost $23,000. The second item was unbudgeted legal expenses to update the airport zoning ordinance.
But Best had some good news about the county’s share on the runway capital project. He found out last week the project came in $133,000 under budget which reduces their share.
County Administrator Bud Norman reported to the Commissioners on Friday that the second draft of the proposed 2020 County General Fund Budget showed a $2.8 million deficit. The Commissioners are scheduled to take final action on the budget in December.
