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May 2, 2024 Editor, The News-Gazette: Some guys with small planes want to build a vanity airport in Rockbridge County. That much is clear. And boy, they pulling out all the stops to get the taxpayers to support the idea. The latest pitch is the idea that the study commissioned to justify (excuse me, “investigate”) the airport is just a study; no decisions have been made yet. And that an airport is the very best economic development idea that could possibly be put forth. Think of all the jobs that will be created, the head of the economic development board wrote just this month in this paper. Previous letters even hinted that major airlines will run feeder routes to Rockbridge County. Who are they kidding?
I would suggest that any reader use the search term “airline layoffs” and review the results. The small airports that will no longer be served are huge compared to anything that could be built here.
If an airport were to be built here, the very few high-paying jobs that might be created would mostly be filled by people moving from somewhere else. So, property owners in all local jurisdictions will be asked to pay for an airport so a few guys can park their planes slightly closer to their house. Will the airport study include an estimated impact on local taxpayers or the net impact on future economic development caused by an airport that is a financial disaster? I bet not! Consultants are generally committed to selling more consulting services.
Finally, why is the economic development board writing in support of this study when an airport isn’t anywhere in the board’s future planning documents? Could it be that the small group of wealthy guys with planes are manufacturing the appearance of support so we will all shut up and pay our taxes regardless of the impact on our own households? MICHELE JOHNSON Kerrs Creek
