A $146,432 Schuylkill County contribution landed Wednesday for the Airport Authority.

The money had been sitting in the county’s contingency fund since December, when it was earmarked as officials crafted the 2023 budget. Commissioners at a public meeting Wednesday agreed to move it to the contribution fund for release to the authority.

The authority operates the Schuylkill Regional Airport, also known as the Joe Zerbey Field, just off interstate 81 at the Minersville exit, about 8 miles west of Pottsville.

The money, said Airport Authority Chairman Noble C. Quandel Jr., will be used for operating expenses.

He attended the meeting along with other Authority members and airport manager Bill Willard.

Quandel said the airport serves the nearby Highridge Business Park, which houses manufacturing and distribution centers, including Wegmans, Lowes, Walmart, and Tyson Foods.

“Our primary goal is very clear, and it’s to achieve financial self-sufficiency. Our priorities currently are to resurface the main runway, rehabilitate the main apron, upgrade the terminal building to reflect a positive regional image, develop additional hangar space, develop infrastructure necessary for expansion and development, extension of the taxiway- currently proceeding with this process, subject to a grant,” Quandel said.

Plans to purchase a new snowplow are progressing, he said.

Authority member Eric R. Seitzinger brought photos, including one of a heart transplant team using the airport to transport.

“A life was saved that day,” he said.

All three commissioners approved the contribution. The matter was on the agenda for last week’s meeting, but commissioners George F. Halcovage Jr. and Gary J. Hess asked that it be delayed a week so Authority members could attend the following meeting to give a clearer picture of its financial situation.

Commissioner Chairman Barron L. Hetherington, responding to public comments questioning the Authority’s ability to manage its budget, said that “airports are not profit centers.”

He also mistakenly said the money was from the federal American Recovery Plan Act - pandemic funds and therefore no cost to the taxpayers.

Halcovage said the authority’s stagnant financial situation was troubling.

County money given to the airport ebbs and flows back, with the Authority using it to make payments on loans the county made to it.

“It’s a bit frustrating that we’re giving money and just getting it back,” he said. “I’m concerned about where we’re moving forward.”

Hess spoke of the importance of the airport and of public transportation in the county.

The bottom line

The county gives the authority an annual contribution. Last year. It was $290,000. This year it was about $256,000, County Administrator Gary R. Bender said.

Commissioners have also added extra funds forgiven loans or made the payments. In April 2022 commissioners moved $181,689 from the contingency fund to the authority.

According to the Airport Authority’s 2023 budget, provided by its solicitor, Martin J. Cerullo, the airport projects income of $572,212 and expenditures of $512,928.

According to the Authority’s projected five-year funding plan this year, they anticipate expenses, excluding depreciation and loan payments, of $512,928. Next year the projection is $538,574; in 2025, $565,503; in 2026, $593,778; and in 2027, $623,467.

The projections for the county allocation for operating expenses, debt and reserves, this year is $181,196; next year $181,196; in 2025, $195,640; in 2026, $202,709; and in 2027, $210,131.

For the county allocation for grant funds match, this year is $63,650; next year is $50,000; and for 2025 through 2027, it’s $100,000 per year.

The total county funding request this year is $244,846; next year it’s $231,196; in 2025 it’s $295,640; in 2026, it’s $302,709; and in 2027 it’s $310,131.

The budget also lists the assumptions that total Airport Authority expenses are projected to increase at the rate of inflation at 5%

per year. Also, the grant funds match is the 5 percent match for the following anticipated grants: this year, a snowplow; next year, a terminal building; in 2025, an apron runway/maintenance; in 2026, equipment replacement; and in 2027, hanger upgrades.

Also according to the budget, the Airport Authority anticipates the county allocation this year of $181,196; and income from fuel sales, $200,000; on the expense side, buying fuel for sale is anticipated at $160,000; salaries at $87,000 and insurance at $57,500.