Tunica Airport requests additional appropriation after lower insurance quote; board approves Cook Insurance policy payment plan

The Tunica County Airport requested additional county appropriation at the Aug. 4 Board of Supervisors meeting to cover an increase in its property-insurance premium. The board approved the airport’s request and selected a lower quote from Cook Insurance.

Why it matters: Rising insurance costs affect airport operating budgets and could require county support to maintain coverage.

Airport representative Miss Warner (Tunica Airport Board/commission representative) told supervisors the airport’s annual property-insurance premium had increased substantially since 2018. Two quotes from the incumbent carrier, Gallagher, were in the $86,000–$89,000 range; a Cook Insurance quote was $62,003. The airport asked for county assistance to pay the premium. The proposal discussed at the meeting included an $18,600 down payment and monthly installments of $5,068.54 until the premium is paid.

A supervisor asked whether the county had already paid last year’s premium; airport staff said the county had made an appropriation and repaid the amount. Board members moved and seconded a motion to approve the Cook Insurance policy payment plan; the motion carried.

What’s next: The insurance premium will be paid according to the down-payment and monthly schedule discussed; the transcript does not provide further budget-accounting details beyond the approved motion.