Airport board recommends annual CPI-based hangar fee adjustment; trustees vote to forward recommendation

The Beaufort County Airports Board voted to recommend an annual, CPI-based adjustment to county airport hangar fees and to include that escalator clause in new leases.

Staff explained the proposal would recalibrate hangar fees annually using the most current Consumer Price Index. The presenter said the adjustment could increase or decrease fees depending on CPI movements and gave a table showing example impacts: Buford Executive hangar fees would increase by $8.71 per month under the current 2.4% CPI figure cited in the presentation.

Staff said the change is intended to avoid infrequent large increases and keep fees competitive with other airports in the state. New leases would include the escalator clause; existing tenants would be asked to sign new leases to incorporate the adjustment.

Board members discussed alignment with the county fiscal year; staff recommended tying the adjustment to July 1 so the timing matches the county budget cycle. Staff also noted gates and other specific funding pools (for example, gate maintenance) are handled separately and would not be affected by the hangar-fee escalator.

After discussion, a board member moved, the motion was seconded, and the board approved recommending the CPI-based hangar-fee adjustment to county council.

Staff said implementation will require updating lease templates and routing approvals through the county’s lease/contract process. Board members asked that airport lease and rules/regulations changes be reviewed by improvement committees (ARW and HXD) before final recommendations are sent to council.