Bill Would Funnel Aircraft Excise Taxes To Local Airports

A state legislator in Washington State has proposed legislation that would require all aircraft excise tax revenue to be deposited in the aeronautics account to be solely dedicated to fund the operation and administrative expenses of the department of transportation aviation airport aid grant program.

The bill was proposed by Republican representative Tom Dent (pictured), who said on his website that it has bipartisan support in the state legislature.

According to the bill summary, an annual excise tax is levied for using an aircraft in the state. The tax varies from $20 for a sailplane to $4,000 for a larger aircraft operated by a commuter air carrier. Proceeds of the aircraft excise tax are split with 90 percent deposited in the State General Fund and 10 percent deposited in the Aeronautics Account.

The State General Fund is the principal fund supporting the omnibus operating budget. Major revenue sources include, but are not limited to, the state sales tax, the state property tax and the state business and occupations tax. The Aeronautics Account is a dedicated account administered by the Department of Transportation.

Revenue sources include aircraft fuel excise taxes and a portion of aircraft excise tax collections. The state provides financial assistance to local airports through the Aviation Airport Aid Grant program administered by the Department of Transportation. In 2014, airport aid grants were provided to 25 airports. The grants awarded in 2014 totaled $10.8 million–$1.8 million in state funding combined with $9 million in federal and local funds.

The Columbia Basin Herald reports that Dent says that it is not a new tax, but a bill to re-direct taxes to the appropriate account. About 90 percent of the revenue has been placed in the General Fund.

The State's House Appropriations Committee considered the bill last week, and it currently remains in committee.

FMI: Bill Summary