- September 30, 2024
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Dear Editor:
Asking the Ormond Beach Aviation Advisory Board to review the proposed landing fee strikes me as unadvisable as asking a group of MAGA Republicans to evaluate Trump.
The proposed landing fee offers a possible reduction of the growing airpot debt. Ormond Beach citizens deserve better than responsibility for an enterprise that serves a limited economic elite population. Unfortunately, that population routinely violates the flight paths and aggravates citizens living near the airport.
If the City Commission really want to serve the taxpaying public, they should survey citizens and learn their views about a million dollar debt serving the economic elite rather than the majority of citizens. Conceivably, tax payers would favor their tax dollars going toward benefits for the majority rather than an economic elite.
Charles G. Russell
Ormond Beach
Dear Editor:
This is an example of the local community not understanding the true value of their airport. Yes, the airport operation may cost the city about $150k per year more to operate than it brings in with direct revenue. As this has been compounded for 9 years, that debt for the airport is now $999,852.
Personally, I will boycott an airport that assesses fees to general aviation. Many people believe pilots are rich, and they want to punish us for that (although I saw many cars / trucks in Ormond Beach that cost more than my airplane). What isn’t considered is that when pilots come to your town, we are typically bringing others with us, we are going to be spending money, often staying overnight, and thereby improving the local economy. More visitors equal more retail shops, more restaurants, more hotels and home rentals - all generating local revenue. I promise, the economic impact to Ormond Beach is significantly greater than $150k per year in expenses to run the airport.
I was always taught to never complain about a problem without suggesting a solution. My suggestion is that the city should consider modifying their “Local Roads” Impact Fee to include funding the airport. Change the fee from “Local Roads” to “Surface Infrastructure”. Increase the fee by $2 in each category and send that money to the airport. Deficit problem solved.
Imposing landing fees is akin to charging every vehicle entering the town a road use fee. Imagine requiring all locals to have a tag on their vehicle, and then charging every non-tagged vehicle entering the city a road-use fee. Heck, charge it at $0.25 per 1,000 pounds empty weight too, that way heavier transient vehicles pay more than lighter ones, just like a toll road.
Of course, this would run into opposition as it would generate complaints that people already pay a road-tax in every gallon of fuel they purchase, and that opposition would be legitimate. The same is true for aviation, as Florida charges $0.0427 per gallon of aviation fuel sold in the state, which is deposited to the State Transportation Trust Fund.
If Ormond Beach wants to punish me because I am “rich” in some people’s eyes, then I will easily pick another Florida Beach town for my next vacation. The beauty of owning an airplane is that I have more options for my vacation destination.
I hope that the residents of Ormond Beach recognize the value that the airport brings to the area and can respect that pilots are just ordinary citizens just like the majority of local residents. The only difference is that rather than having hobbies like boating, hot rods, classic cars, motorcycles, etc., we utilize airplanes.
Spencer Hamons
Lake Tenkiller, Oklahoma
Editor's note: This letter was originally an email sent to the Observer, as well as city officials. Spencer Hamons stated he spent a week in Ormond Beach last year with his family of four and spent over $3,500. The email is reposted here with permission. It has been edited for length.
