County leaders in northwestern Arkansas have voted to spend $300,000 to bring commercial airline service to Ozark Regional Airport.

The Baxter County Quorum Court voted Monday evening to spend the money to support Region Air's bid to start flights from the airport next February. Much of that money will be used to refurbish a 19-seat Jetstream turboprop (similar to type shown above) for the airline's use.

"For us to have dependable service at Ozark Regional Airport, we will need to have a plane based here," Airport Commission Chairman Richard Sheid told the Baxter Bulletin.

In exchange, the airline promised to provide two months of service without any further subsidies from the county.

Under terms of the agreement, the county should only be out about $54,000 in the end... as the Department of Transportation is footing 80 percent of the bill, as part of an 80/20 grant for the airport.

At least one official, however, still questioned the amount of money being spent to subsidize the airline's services.

"Under no circumstances should taxpayers be subsidizing this airline in any shape whatsoever," former quorum court member Bill Ellison said.

FMI: www.flytheozarks.com/