The Pulaski County Council is making funding arrangements to keep airport upgrades on track. Aviation Board President Jim McDaniel says Arens Field is in the process of getting more than $200,000 worth of improvements, “A new parking lot out front, more security across the fuel farm, working closer towards, someday, they’re going to request that we fence the whole place, but there’ll be a gate.”
He told the county council Monday that 95 percent of the project cost is covered by state and federal grants, but money to pay the remaining five percent was apparently cut out of the airport’s budget. “The Grant Match Dollars Fund — it was approved $7,500 for 2018, but it seems to have fallen through the cracks or something,” McDaniel said. “It’s not there.”
Auditor Laura Wheeler explained that council members cut the money in an effort to balance the county’s budget, with the understanding that an additional appropriation could be requested.
Council members voted Monday to advertise a $7,500 additional appropriation for consideration during next month’s meeting. In the meantime, McDaniel said he’d ask contractors to delay sending bills, and Council President Jay Sullivan offered to send a commitment letter on behalf of the county.
The Pulaski County Highway Department experienced similar issues in its budget for asset management planning.
