WANTAGE TOWNSHIP APPLAUDS FEDERAL PROSECUTORS
"Sigh of Relief" That Full Story May Now Be Revealed on Airport Purchase Study
With news that Sussex Airport owner Paul Styger has pleaded guilty to embezzlement of funds, the governing body of Wantage Township expresses their compliments and congratulations to the Federal Aviation Administration and the United States Attorneys Office for protecting the public's funds.
"While it was news to us that charges had actually been filed and a guilty plea submitted, we are grateful that this issue has been dealt with swiftly and properly" said Wantage Mayor Parker Space. "We knew investigations were on going into these allegations, but not that the matter had progressed so quickly and efficiently. Seeing the whole thing reach a proper end brings a sigh of relief."
"Accountability is one of the most important things in public service, and when Mr. Styger accepted federal grants with taxpayer money, he became accountable to all of us" says Mayor Space. "It's a shame that this happened, but it is a good thing to see that such wrongdoing will be dealt with."
According to Administrator Jim Doherty, up until now, Wantage officials could not release information about this investigation. "State and FAA officials told us, in confidence, that these investigations were going on. It became clear to us that the likelihood was extremely high Mr. Styger would no longer be in a position to own this airport in the future. We were not able to talk about these factors publicly because it would have compromised the investigation, and the efforts at securing justice."
Doherty says that, unfortunately, a number of people chose to criticize the Wantage governing body on an issue about which those people did not have all of the facts, "and the governing body simply had to take it, for the good of every one involved. Now that this situation has been resolved, the whole story can be told."
Doherty points out that with Styger's situation being what it is, the future of the airport becomes a simple question of which level of government will wind up with ownership. "Even in an all things being equal scenario, the annual profit margin for a private airport is marginal at best. But in the private sector, this situation is about as far as can be found from 'all things being equal'."
Doherty continues, "Because of the outstanding grants, pending penalties, and still-needed improvements at the airport, and adding in the fact that federal grant money is not available to a private party for purchase of an airport, no private investor could possibly recover their initial investment in this airport for several decades, never mind even think about turning a profit. Then add in the fact that the State and Federal governments have liens and encumbrances on the property that dedicate its sole use as an airport, which further reduces the ability of a private investor from turning a profit through other activities."
"Doherty says when it became clear to Wantage officials that no private businessman would buy a business where it was impossible to turn a profit in the private sector, "the only remaining question for us became: is it possible for the Township to make this a positive business investment as a public airport?" Doherty points out that the State and Federal government have made it clear the Township would not be held accountable for any outstanding fines, penalties or unpaid grants if the airport were purchased, and that a municipality is eligible to apply for state and federal grants to pay for the airport purchase."
"Moving ahead with the airport study is a simple question of finding out whether or not the Township can turn a profit if we own it" says Doherty. "For us, unlike the private sector, the airport operation does become an 'all things being equal' scenario as a starting point."
Mayor Space says that the Township fully recognizes limiting factors such as wetlands, and dismisses untrue rumors about expansion of the airport as "the usual rumor mill nonsense." Space says the Township would not proceed with the purchase of the airport if the study comes back negative. "There's absolutely no reason to own an airport - or any business - if you know going in that it will always lose money" says Space.
However, because the future ownership of the airport is virtually guaranteed to be in the hands of either local, county or state government, "if we can get some revenue from owning the airport, that would offset the loss of taxes that has become an unavoidable fact" says Doherty. "If this airport goes to the county or the state, then we lose the tax revenue and any airport revenue. It'd be a double whammy, instead of a sound business plan to offset lost revenue with newfound revenue."
Township officials anticipate that the airport feasibility study will be completed later this year.
posted May 27, 2009