Subject:
Title
Resolution authorizing continuation of a $4.50 Passenger Facility Charge at the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution authorizing St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) to submit Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) Application #7 to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to allow continued collection of the PFC fees to fund FAA approved projects. In addition, obtain Chairman’s signature on the PFC Application when the FAA indicates the application is substantially complete.
• The total PFC revenue to be collected in the new application, through November 1, 2026, is $13.653M. Funding supports projects such as the construction of a new taxiway “N” that will mitigate potential runway incursions; additional funding for apron construction and construction of new taxiways “C” and “A4” due to the high bids received; a portion of the design services cost of the upcoming terminal expansion and improvements project; and the acquisition of a new airfield sweeper.
• The FAA’s PFC program allows the collection of PFC fees up to $4.50 for every enplaned passenger at commercial service airports to fund FAA approved projects that enhance safety, security, or capacity.
• Submitting a new PFC application will ensure that PIE can continue imposing a $4.50 PFC on each enplanement and can continue collection to fund FAA eligible improvements to PIE’s terminal and airfield.
• The draft resolution and the application form must be approved and signed by the Chairman before the application is submitted to the FAA.
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Strategic Plan:
Foster Continual Economic Growth & Vitality
4.4 Invest in infrastructure to meet current and future needs
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
Summary:
Submitting a new PFC application will ensure that PIE can continue imposing a $4.50 PFC on each enplanement and can continue collection to fund PFC eligible improvements to PIE’s terminal and airfield.
PIE has been collecting PFCs since its first application was approved by the FAA in 2008.
Background Information:
The FAA’s PFC program allows the collection of PFC fees up to $4.50 for every enplaned passenger at commercial airports controlled by public agencies. PFCs are capped at $4.50 per flight segment. Airports use these fees to fund FAA approved projects that enhance safety, security, or capacity.
PIE keeps $4.39 of the revenue collected; the remaining $0.11 is retained by the airlines for administrative costs.
This resolution authorizes PIE to submit its’ seventh application to the FAA to continue collecting PFCs for the FAA-approved projects mentioned above. Construction and delivery of these items must begin within two years from the application’s effective date.
On September 16, 2008, the Board of County Commissioners approved Resolution 08-151 which authorized PIE to submit its first application to the FAA for the imposition and collection of a new PFC fee in the initial amount of $2.6M to fund eligible improvements to the airfield and terminal. The PFC Application was approved by the FAA on December 19, 2008.
Since the initial PFC Application was approved by the FAA, there have been six applications for eligible projects of similar nature. It usually takes between six to nine months for the FAA to review and approve a PFC application.
PFC applications are collection amount driven, not time driven. We have approximately $200K left in collections from Application #6. This means that another PFC application must be submitted immediately to avoid the cessation of collections by the FAA. Because of the record-breaking passenger traffic we have experienced in the past year, the collection pace has been much faster than anticipated.
Fiscal Impact:
The total PFC revenue to be collected in the new application is $13,653,528.00. The expiration date for this application is anticipated on or about November 1, 2026, based upon historical collections. When the application and projects are approved by the FAA in the next few months, the funding sources for the approved projects will be adjusted or programmed in our CIP during the budget development process to reflect the PFC revenue.
Staff Member Responsible:
Thomas R. Jewsbury, Director, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport
Partners:
FAA
Attachments:
Resolution
PFC Application Form (Form #5500)
Proposed Project Descriptions
Executed Amended PFC Application Form #6