Tower Closing Due To Sequestration Means Additional Expenses

The organizers of the Sun 'n Fun Fly In scheduled to begin April 9 are reportedly facing a $300,000 bill to maintain air traffic control services during the show. Officials say they will need about 70 temporary controllers to handle the traffic that is expected to descend on Lakeland, FL, next week.

John Leenhouts, the event's director, said that the show will go on as usual, but that there have been difficult decisions that have had to be made in order for that to happen.

Leenhouts said that if something needs to be cut, it would be some of the entertainment for the show and some of the outreach programs that are associated with the event. He also said some creature comforts ... like porta-potties ... could be reduced in order to make up the shortfall. "Money that we would have used to help kids further their education won't be there," he told the Tampa, FL, cable television channel Bay News 9.

The Polk County Tourism Department said it was trying to secure some emergency funding to help the event over the financial hump tossed its way by sequestration. Spokesman Mark Jackson said the event has an annual economic impact of about $57 million "that we simply can't afford to lose."

FMI: www.polk-county.net