Council needs to land two million dollars to top up the cost of the 6 million dollar Airport Modernization Project in Smithers. If 10 per cent or more of the voters in Smithers disagree with council borrowing 2 million dollars to pay for the upgrades, the airport project might never leave the runway.
“Council certainly wants the support of the entire community. We really see our long-term success here as a community linked to the airport,” says Mayor Taylor Bachrach.
He says council plans on paying the 2 million dollar debt with revenues from the airport improvement fees and not the tax base.
“That’s an important part,” says Bachrach.
The modernized airport will have increased capacity to accommodate larger planes.
Voters in the community have 30 days from June 11th to oppose the project if they choose to.
The project has a start date set for April 2017, and a completion date of April 2019.
A Request for Proposals has been released with a closing date of May 26, 2016.
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