By NICK BUDD
Hays Post

At Thursday night’s Hays City Commission meeting, commissioners unanimously approved submitting a formal application for a $4.50 Passenger Facilitation Charge at the Hays Regional Airport. If the PFC is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, the fee will be charged to every ticket originating out of the Hays Regional Airport.

Revenues will be used to pay for capital improvement project that improve safety security or capacity including the current terminal renovations and the reconstruction of the crosswind runway at the airport. Airports in Topeka, Garden City, Manhattan and Wichita also have PFCs in place.

Public Works Director I.D. Creech projected the $188,000 limit on the PFC will be reached in just more than three years based on 13,000 boardings per year. Creech said the $4.50 charge will generate approximately $58,500 each year. The city also has the ability to apply for additional PFCs for projects approved under the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program.

“As we move forward with our airport improvement plan, we have more projects that could can qualify for authorization. So we can go ahead and get those approved and have those ready to go,” said City Manager Toby Dougherty.

The PFC could be in place by as early as February, depending upon the FAA approval process.