Airline Fee Proposal Worries Small Utah Towns, Farmers

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Small plane pilots, rural towns and farmers in Utah are uniting in opposition to a federal plan that would give tax breaks to commercial airlines. A bill in the U.S. Senate would make up the money from a commercial tax break with new "user fees" on businesses and towns that rely on small aircraft for access.

Utah Farmers Union President Arthur Douglas explained his concerns in a telephone conference yesterday.

"About two weeks ago we had to hire a crop duster to come out and fly about 30 miles - will this be another tax? Ultimately the crop dusting company will pass that tax back onto us - the farmers and ranchers," says Douglas.

St. George Mayor Stephen Thompson says small and mid-sized companies flying into his city's airport are a major economic driver for the area. The proposed fees may discourage economic development in Southern Utah, says Thompson.

Avid pilot and former U.S. Senator Jake Garn says lawmakers in Washington "need to be educated" about the dangerous consequences of overhauling the current funding structure of the Federal Aviation Administration.

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