LETTER: Airport's value exaggerated by supporters
Figures don’t lie; liars figure. Just look at the purported figures in the paid ads for that economic behemoth, the Kalispell City Airport. All the figures come from studies by airport consultants whose sole job is to work on developing bigger airports, so it’s no wonder all the numbers look so doggone great!
It’s all puff, you know — taking something that’s not working and puffing it up so it looks like something it’s not.
If Kalispell City Airport contributes a net of $127,500 on 71 acres of land, then we need to make it 20 times bigger and 20 times more net revenue to at least get the same revenue as developing 71 acres into housing or businesses — gee, think how many people could get some use out of 71 acres, instead of 72 airplane owners. And in case nobody’s noticed, personal aircraft ownership is not going up.
What about that $24 million in local impact? If you believe that, I’ve got a bridge in New York to sell you. With that kind of revenue I’ve got to admit that the city airport has done a great job keeping it hidden, along with 96 jobs. I drive past the airport numerous times each week year-round, and for a $2-million-per-month operation, it sure seems like hardly anything is happening.
I did call Glacier Park International Airport to check out how much it costs to park an airplane, anywhere from $20 to $40 a month, and they’ve got tons of space and would love more customers. Glacier Park International is about five minutes’ fly time to our dear Kalispell City Airport.
In referencing economic impact, I contacted a local grocery store in that area and was shocked that they had about 110 employees in a 55,000 -quare-foot building (1 ¼ acre approx.), whereas supporters say the Kalispell City Airport has, and I’m not making this up, 96 jobs. It’s highly suspicious how this number was arrived at.
To go forward, I implore the City Council to do the right thing, and in the future if the city would like to tap into public issues, I suggest a simple yes-or-no question inserted with the monthly water bill, cheap and easy. You wouldn’t get everybody but you would get a heck of a lot more involvement than the city gets now. Question: should the city be involved in the airport business? Yes No. Circle one.
Too easy, right?
—Bert Lenon, Kalispell