Airport Executives Claim No One Is Being Forced Out

Two companies that provide hangar space to the business aviation community at Reno-Tahoe (KRNO) airport will be closing their doors when their leases expire June 30th, and some pilots are charging that airport officials want the space for new businesses that will pay increased rents.

Airport authorities admit that they will soon announce new businesses at the airport, which they say will bring high-paying jobs, but they deny that the pilots are being forced out to make room.

At the center of the dispute are Sierra Air and Jet West, which are both long-term tenants at the airport. Airport authority president and CEO Krys Bart said the leases for those two companies are being "adjusted" to reflect current market value, but that no business or individual is being asked to leave the field. The Nevada Appeal reports that, in Bart's estimation, it is a "small group of pilots" who are upset that companies from which they rent hangars are leaving the airport. Bart said one of the companies would have had to make an substantial investment to bring its facilities up to "current standards."

But the Washoe County Commission has now gotten involved in the matter. A resolution is being written to change the way the airport authority handles GA which will be debated at a meeting on June 22. The are concerned about the loss of as much as $2 million in tax revenue should the aircraft pull up stakes and move out of the county. “That is the revenue from the personal property tax for the personal aircraft that are registered and hangared in Washoe County,” said commissioner Bob Larkin. He said that a private aircraft with a value of $13 million pays $90,000 each year in personal property taxes.

FMI: www.renoairport.com, www.co.washoe.nv.us/bcc