County asks for airport funding

The bureau didn't commit to funding the airport.
& lt;a href=mailto:skolnick@vindy.com & gt;By DAVID SKOLNICK & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Mahoning County Auditor George Tablack used words such as beg and hat in hand during his plea to the county's visitors bureau to help fund the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
Although officials with the county and the Youngstown/Mahoning Convention and Visitors Bureau called Wednesday's meeting a good exchange of ideas, the bureau is not ready to commit to giving any money to keep the airport open.
Lawrence Richards, the bureau's president, said the organization's main mission is to promote tourism and conventions in Mahoning County. He doesn't see how an airport that has no commercial passenger flights fits into that mission.
If the airport had commercial flights, Richards said, it "would be a much easier sell" to get money for the facility from the bureau.
Convention center
The bureau has saved $600,000 over the past 14 years to help promote a convention center if one were ever built in the county, Richards said. He said an undetermined portion of that money would be used to promote and market the proposed Youngstown convocation center, once it is built.
Before it decides, the bureau awaits legal opinions on whether state law allows it to provide money for the airport's operating costs. Tablack contends the bureau has broad discretion to use the money.
Mahoning County commissioners haven't decided whether they can afford to match Trumbull County's $187,000 contribution to the airport this year.
Tablack had suggested asking the visitors bureau, which gets its money from a 3 percent hotel-motel bed tax, to contribute.
County officials discussed Wednesday the possibility of seeking the entire $187,000 from the visitors bureau, or as little as $50,000 to fund the airport. Also, county officials say they would like a long-term commitment from the bureau to fund the airport.
The county is also looking at the possibility of using $50,000 from the economic development portion of the county sales tax, but is not sure if it is legal to use the money for the airport.
Commissioner Ed Reese said it would take more than $50,000 here and $50,000 there to make the airport viable, but a contribution from the bureau would at least be a start in the right direction.
Made pleas
During the meeting, Tablack pleaded with the bureau's members to contribute to the airport, saying it would be a blow to the area's economy and to the area's image if the facility were to shut down because of a lack of funding. He also said any financial concerns the bureau have pale in comparison with the county, which could face a $3 million deficit next year.
Although the bureau gave no commitment, Commissioner Vicki Allen Sherlock said Wednesday's meeting was a step in the right direction.
& lt;a href=mailto:skolnick@vindy.com & gt;skolnick@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;