spot_imgspot_img

Millions in federal dollars flow to Georgia airport projects

spot_img

(The Center Square) — Georgia officials this month allocated more than $7.6 million for two airport projects in the southern part of the state.

The Georgia Department of Transportation approved more than $5.4 to rehabilitate the taxiway and runway construction at the Columbus Airport. The money is from the fiscal 2024 Airport Aid Program.

“The rehabilitation of the taxiway and the creation of a new runway at Columbus Airport will guarantee a greater ease of transportation throughout the city and state,” state Sen. Ed Harbison, D-Columbus, said in an announcement.

According to an Oct. 3 interoffice memo from GDOT’s Division of Intermodal, the project includes more than $3.1 million in federal funds and $661,761 in local funds. GDOT is pulling more than $1.6 million from the Capital Outlay-Airport Aid Program detail of the Intermodal Transfer Facility fiscal 2024 budget.

Additionally, GDOT announced a contract with the city of Montezuma to build a tarmac at the Dr. C.P. Savage Sr. Airport. In an announcement, Harbison said the project would “enhance Montezuma’s transportation infrastructure” and allow the airport “greater capacity to handle increased air traffic.”

GDOT approved the creation of the tarmac on May 23, 2022, as a part of the fiscal 2023 Airport Aid Program. However, the nearly $2.2 million project was only recently announced.

An Oct. 3 GDOT memo indicates the project includes $1.6 million in state funds, which appears to be from a Federal Aviation Administration fiscal 2021 grant. The remaining money will come from the federal government ($8,153) and the local government ($546,955).

The state tapped Duluth-based Holt Consulting Co. for both projects.

Marc Scribner, a senior transportation policy analyst for the Reason Foundation, said near-zero interest rates and money from federal programs such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act opened funding for federal tax dollars for local projects. However, a burgeoning federal debt could threaten unrestrained spending indefinitely.

“Which do you think they’re going to cut first, the Social Security and Medicare payments or spending on your favorite bridge project or airport project?” Scribner said. “I think [we] have to start thinking about this sooner rather than later because the gravy train that we’ve had, especially in the last 15 years, is coming to an end. We’re not on a sustainable course.

“I think we need to get back to basics. Who benefits the most from these projects? The people who use them,” Scribner added. “If those are the primary beneficiaries, they should probably be paying for, if not all, the vast majority of the maintenance and operations costs, as well as the capital improvements. We’ve got to get back to a ‘users pay, users benefit’ principle.”

DON’T MISS OUT

Be the first to know about the latest news, giveaways, events, and updates from The Black Chronicle!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

spot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

African and Caribbean Nations Call for Reparations for Slave Trade, Propose Global Fund

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by...

Health care company agrees to pay $22.5 million to settle claims of over billing

A health care company agreed to pay nearly $22.5...

Sports betting expert offers advice on paying taxes for gambling winnings

(The Center Square) – Tax season is underway, and...

Entertainment district benefits don’t outweigh the cost, economists say

(The Center Square) — Weeks later, after more details...

Business association ‘disappointed’ by WA L&I’s proposed workers comp rate hike

(The Center Square) – The Association of Washington Business...

Biden Defends Economic Legacy

(AURN News) — President Joe Biden offered a spirited...

ActBlue’s anti-fraud measures pass recent scrutiny, Steil admits

(The Center Square) – Democrat political donation platform ActBlue...

King County Executive doubles down on housing-first approach to homelessness

(The Center Square) – Exiting King County Executive Dow...

Policy revisited: Analyst claims car inspections don’t improve highway safety

(The Center Square) — There’s an annual occurrence for...

Grants available for Ohio communities to clean up illegal dump sites

(The Center Square) – Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost...

Satanic display outside New Hampshire State House draws controversy

(The Center Square) — New Hampshire's state capitol was...

Parents opting to keep children out of child care as closures continue

(The Center Square) – Michigan is one of the...

Louisiana actuarial committee approves retirement fund reports

(The Center Square) - The Public Retirement Systems' Actuarial...

More like this
Related

Biden Defends Economic Legacy

(AURN News) — President Joe Biden offered a spirited...

ActBlue’s anti-fraud measures pass recent scrutiny, Steil admits

(The Center Square) – Democrat political donation platform ActBlue...

King County Executive doubles down on housing-first approach to homelessness

(The Center Square) – Exiting King County Executive Dow...

Policy revisited: Analyst claims car inspections don’t improve highway safety

(The Center Square) — There’s an annual occurrence for...