Mobile County Commission Approves $15 million for the Mobile Downtown Airport

Posted on: Mar 28th, 2022 | Announcements Press Releases Featured News

MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. – The Mobile County Commission voted Monday, March 28, 2022, to approve $15 million to the Mobile Airport Authority for the proposed Mobile Downtown Airport (BFM).

Commissioners approved $5 million payable in installments of $1 million a year over the next five years as general support to the Mobile Downtown Airport (BFM). In addition, $5 million was authorized in roads projects for the Mobile Downtown Airport (BFM) in each of the 2022 and 2024 Mobile County Pay-As-You-Go road improvement programs.

This economic development support package is subject to final project agreement and passage of the next two Pay-As-You-Go programs referenda.

“$15 million is certainly a significant contribution from the County. We understand that the Mobile Downtown Airport is a priority and will have major long-term impact on our entire regional area,” said Mobile County Commission President Connie Hudson. “By providing funding over time and through an existing program, we’re able to support this project in a way that doesn’t require borrowing money or impact funding for existing County priorities,” she added.

Mobile County Commissioner Randall Dueitt said: “The downtown airport is important for air travel and transport capacity in an out of Mobile County. I feel that the downtown airport will have a huge economic impact not only for Mobile County but for the state of Alabama and the Southeast region. I am pleased that we are able to support the Mobile Airport Authority in a way that has minimum impact on tax payers and is being spread out over time.”

Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood said: “Making the County’s investment in BFM over several years allows us to support this important project without detracting from other areas of need.”

ABOUT PAY-AS-YOU-GO:
Mobile County’s Pay-As-You-Go program is a method of financing road and bridge improvements with no new taxes and no borrowed money. Funds are collected in advance of each road program. Beginning in 1977, Mobile County’s Pay-As-You-Go has funded more than $933 million in local road improvements and has been approved by voters each of the 18 times it has appeared on a ballot. Mobile County Pay-As-You-Go projects may be viewed at: http://www.mobilecountyal.gov/.../public-works-engineering/