The Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport Authority Board has approved a maintenance and capital budget of just under $1.75 million for fiscal year 2023.
The budget includes an 8% pay bump for employees, which includes a cost of living increase and raises associated with their newly acquired responsibility to take the lead in responding to any commercial passenger airline crashes.
The board also approved spending $5,000 to secure 30 minutes with newly elected and reelected Idaho legislators during the upcoming North Idaho Legislative Tour in November. The tour, held every other year, is sponsored by the Lewis Clark Valley Chamber of Commerce and is meant to bring lawmakers up to speed on regional economic and public policy issues. The board was offered either a 30-minute slot for $5,000 or an hour-slot for $10,000. The board plans to team with American Cruise Line officials, who would also pay $5,000, to lobby legislators for an hour and explain to them the economic benefits of the cruise industry to the airport and the Lewis-Clark Valley. (Lewiston Tribune)
