I’ve been around long enough to have personally experienced that all government agencies; local, state and federal have some level of graft, collusion and corruption within. I’m also in the highest income tax bracket which means I’m allowed the least amount of tax deductions and on the healthcare side I’m now paying four times what I was before Obama care, have far worse coverage, and was told at two recent doctor visits that I have the highest copay either office has ever seen.
So I look at any increase in fees as a tax, because that is what it is. Using the word “fee” is nothing more then a way to circumvent the legislative process needed for creating/modifying a tax. Because of my personal experience I look at any proposed new tax or tax increase as something to be fought vigorously until such time it can be proved to me to be necessary and that it will be used for a very clearly defined need that is directly related to the tax, and that the monies will be well and judiciously spent.
In full disclosure I fly off of my own private airport. I have my own fuel. I pay property tax.
Having said this:
1. I am opposed to any tax levied on aircraft, airports, or pilots that goes into the general fund.
2. I am opposed to any broad tax, such as a new/increase in fuel sales tax, that benefits only a subset of the aviation industry, only public airports would be one example.
3. I support a user based tax at public airports if the need can be well documented as outlined above and the tax supports only that airport. I believe the users based at the airport; pilots, landlords and businesses, have the right to help determine how the tax is collected, and oversee how it is spent.
I also own a hangar, one of many at a private airport in the lower 48. In order for us to maintain our airport we have two classes of membership, A and B.
Class A members are property owners like myself. We each have one vote, pay an annual tax to our owner’s association, and levy an additional tax on ourselves for the balance of major expenses such as runway/taxiway repair or expansion as needed (and voted on).
Class B members are hangar renters. They have no vote, and pay a small annual tax to our owner’s association. We sell fuel at this airport, are the third lowest price in that part of the state, and the profit from the fuel sales goes into the airport association fund.
Note: a few years ago this lower 48 airport had sections owned by multiple public and private entities and individuals, including us hangar owners. As an association we decided it was in our best interest if we owned all the land at the airport (not individual hangar lots). It took us about four years but we managed to take out a loan and purchase all the separate sections of land. As an association we now own all of the airport and have the loan paid off.
A model similar to this could be used at public airports. The airport stake holders own and run the airport.