ITHACA, NY (WHCU) – Leaders in Tompkins County are looking at ways to curb financial losses at Ithaca Tompkins International Airport (ITH), including at the customs facility.

Airport Director Roxan Noble says customs operations are not the revenue generator they’d hoped for coming out of the post-pandemic industry lull. Facility operations cost the airport over $250,000 in losses in 2023 alone.

 

Legislator Lee Shurtleff says there’s a possibility that operations could increase this year, but leaders are considering what the next step is.

 

According to Noble, much of the facility was developed with grant money from the Upstate Airport Initiative program, which prevents the county from simply cutting a loss.

Since the facility is tied to that grant, the county and ITH must consider repurposing the building if they cannot increase revenue. Noble has been discussing possibilities with the NYSDOT and a consultant associated with the airport’s strategic plan. Another option would be to look to the federal government about the airport designation.

 

Airport Deputy Director Josh Nalley says as the airport is now, a user-fee customs facility, it’s cheaper for aircraft to land elsewhere.

“You can fly to Syracuse customs or Rochester’s customs and not get charged a dime because they’re a congressional port of entry,” said Nalley.

While the county mulls what to do with the customs facility, ideas are being floated to help ITH with its operational deficit. A proposal was discussed at a recent Facilities and Infrastructure Committee meeting that calls for substituting county employees for contractual services for airport cleaning and maintenance, and operational staff. Legislator Mike Lane says those talks are ongoing.

Legislator Randy Brown is calling for the county to raise its hotel tax from 5% to 6% and give the money to the airport to help with its overall losses, which he says are $600,000 a year or more in total. If approved, it could be enough to put ITH in the black.

 

Legislator Shawna Black adds the Legislature cannot simply raise the tax on its own.

“We have to appeal to our state representatives and then they have to bring forth a bill,” said Black.

As for the customs facility, Noble says she’s giving as much information as possible so the county can make an informed decision.

 

Discussions are continuing. The county has expressed that they’d like to decide how to proceed during this budget season, if possible.