Friday, May 10, 2002
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Friday, May 10, 2002 |
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Airport authority keeps 'out' clause in hotel-motel tax shortfall agreement By JOHN
MUNFORD An agreement for the Peachtree City Airport Authority to set aside funds in case of a shortfall in the city's hotel-motel tax collections went unchanged Wednesday night. The authority debated a request from City Councilman Steve Rapson to eliminate a paragraph from the agreement that would allow the authority to suspend paying the $28,000 it is setting aside "if the authority is unable to meet its financial obligations." Authority members agreed that the clause was necessary, noting it protects the authority from unforeseen financial burdens such as the ripple effects from the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. After the attacks, the airport was closed for several weeks to all traffic, which effectively cut off one of its main revenue supplies: jet and AvGas sales. But the authority doesn't think such a drastic situation would occur to hurt its finances, authority members agreed. "It would have to be something pretty severe for us not to meet our financial obligations," said authority chairwoman Catherine Nelmes. Authority member H.E. Buffington stressed that the authority wants to work with the City Council on the issue. The authority gets a supplement from the city to operate Falcon Field, with the funds coming from the city's hotel-motel tax. But with the local hospitality industry taking a downturn after the terrorist attacks, city officials wanted to make sure any shortfall in hotel-motel tax collections would be covered. Agreements have been drafted to make sure any shortfall is shared by the city, the Airport Authority and the Development Authority, which also gets hotel-motel tax revenues to subsidize operating the tennis center and amphitheater. In other business, the authority agreed to provide $1,000 to the Fayette County Local Emergency Planning Committee to purchase necessary equipment. The LEPC is a coalition of local industries and businesses that network together to insure hazardous materials or chemical releases are taken care of quickly. Pete Nelms of the LEPC said one example would be if there was a significant spill of aviation fuel at Falcon Field. Then officials could go to a participating LEPC member for absorbent materials to clean up the spill, with the caveat that the materials must be replaced at a later date, Nelms said. The LEPC is in need of funds to buy more equipment to use in hazardous materials situations, Nelms added, thanking the authority for its generosity.
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