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Keith Benman Monitor will dish out airport survival tips MondayThe city of Gary's fiscal monitor will deliver its report on how to cut costs and raise new revenues for Gary/Chicago International Airport on Monday, according to Airport Director Chris Curry. In a one-hour telephone briefing Friday, Public Financial Management Inc., of Philadelphia, delivered an outline of its findings as regards the airport, Curry said. In key findings, the monitor's report will recommend cost-cutting moves such as contracting out some services, Curry said. It also will recommend the airport seek more financial support from the region as a whole to make up for cuts in support from city taxpayers, Curry said. "We have slowly been moving in that direction," Curry said. "But we need to get the regional support in all facets." The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority has already forwarded $20 million in Toll Road-lease proceeds to help fund the airport's expansion project. It is also helping to fund a business plan for the airport. But the RDA does not provide the airport with operating funds. The airport is seeking relief from the state-imposed tax caps that are driving the city's fiscal crisis from the Distressed Unit Appeals Board. But even if the board grants the airport's plea, it will see support from city taxpayers drop to half of what it was two years before, Curry said. The fiscal monitor's report issued Friday for the city of Gary only deals with the airport when it comes to the satellite city fire station that is based there for responding to airport emergencies as well as others in the city. The report urges cost-sharing moves between the airport and city, which could save the city up to $3.1 million over five years, according to the report. In its briefing Friday, Curry said the fiscal monitor said the salary of rank-and-file airport employees, which are paid by the city, should become the airport's responsibility. The airport could not possibly cover that additional cost of about $725,000 per year without more outside financial support, Curry said. "There's no way we can do that unless we get what they are suggesting, which is bringing in more regional resources to fund those type of things," Curry said. This article ran on nwitimes.com on December 19, 2009. |
