CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- The price tag for Cleveland's new airport could be about $42 million, mostly from federal and state sources, officials said.
"That assumes some things at the end that we may, or may not, be able to afford," Cleveland Airport Authority Chairwoman Lynn DeVault said.
Wright Brothers Construction and others are working through the summer heat to reroute a creek and part of Tasso Road to make way for the general aviation airport.
As the massive project becomes more visible to the public, City Councilman George Poe said he is being asked again just how much this costs and what part of it is local money.
"Some people understand. But I still get a lot of questions," Mr. Poe said.
The estimate is $42.1 million, according to Ms. DeVault. About $16.2 million is expected to come from the Federal Aviation Administration and about $14.5 million from the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission of the Tennessee Department of Transportation, she said.
Ms. DeVault will be going before the state commission this week to seek the next round of state funding: $8.2 million for the second phase of construction.
Of the remaining amount, about $5 million will come from private sources, Ms. DeVault said. The city's share will be about $5.3 million, coming mostly from the future sale of Hardwick Field, the existing airport.
All those millions of state and federal dollars come mostly from people who use airports, Mr. Poe and Ms. DeVault said. It is not money from local taxpayers, Mr. Poe said.
ESTIMATED AIRPORT COSTFederal funding: 38.5 percentState funding: 34.6 percentPrivate/city: 26.9 percentSource: City of Cleveland
Pilots buy aviation fuel and pay a tax. Passengers at airports pay a ticket fee, too. The FAA pools that money and distributes it around the country to local airports, Ms. DeVault said.
Other local funds would come from leasing hangar space, a piece of the airport project being worked out now by the authority.
The first phase, what is visible now from Tasso and Michigan Avenue roads, will be winding down soon, according to consultant Mark Paslick.
"It is very hard to watch all that beautiful farm land being invaded," said Pam Edgemon, a county commission candidate, at a recent workshop meeting of the airport authority.
But as the work continues, the appearance will change, Mr. Paslick said.
"Airports can be beautiful, too. At least from my perspective," he said.
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