Wyo. budget cuts might slow expansion of small airports - KOTA Territory News

Wyo. budget cuts might slow expansion of small airports

Airport managers in Wyoming do not expect to be severely impacted by state-wide budget cuts. But economic leaders say they could hinder efforts to bring better air service to small communities.
 
An aeronautics administrator for Wyoming's Transportation Department says the 8 percent cuts will not go into effect until October of 2013, so current projects will not be affected.

Instead, the agency will have to prioritize future improvement funding. That's why neither Sheridan's nor Campbell County's airport directors is worried about service.

But economic leaders say seven times out of ten, people in Sheridan use other airports anyway.
 
"So that's 70 percent of travelers and flights that are taking place at other airports and not Sheridan, and we need to increase that number," said Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce director Dixie Johnson. "We need to get those people flying in and out of Sheridan."
 
She added that won't happen if airports can't make up the money lost from WYDOT.