A revenue bill signed by Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee contains a provision ensuring that money collected from aviation excise taxes will fund state grants to airports.
AOPA worked with the Washington Pilots Association and members of the legislature’s General Aviation caucus, chaired by Sen. Jim Honeyford (R-District 15) and Rep. Gael Tarleton (D-District 36), to guide Senate Bill 6057 through the legislative process, said Jared Esselman, AOPA director of state government affairs.
Esselman credited Sen. Andy Hill (R-District 45) with introducing the measure.
The aviation provision of the wide-ranging economic development and tax policy bill requires that aviation excise taxes regularly be paid to the state treasurer, and "must be credited by the state treasurer to the aeronautics account for state grants to airports" and related administrative expenses.
"Members pay this money when using airports. The money our members pay should go back into the facilities they are using," Esselman said.
Efforts to ensure that proceeds from aviation taxes be reinvested in airports, and existing provisions to fund aviation be protected, continue to be a priority of AOPA’s state legislative advocacy, Esselman said.
