If a new airport authority is formed to take over operations of Lindbergh Field, the San Diego Unified Port District could stand to lose more than $20 million.
According to the port’s finance staff, the figures are preliminary, but the impact to the port if the authority is formed could reach $24 million.
If Assembly Bill 93, authored by state Sen. Steve Peace, D-El Cajon, and Assemblyman Howard Wayne, D-San Diego, is signed by Gov. Gray Davis by Oct. 14, a nine-member board would take over the responsibilities of operation and possibly the relocation of Lindbergh Field.
For the port, that could mean losing revenue it typically gets from passenger landing fees, charges to the airport for general service employees and harbor police patrol. The port also could lose revenue generated by finance, human resources and marketing and public relations charges to the airport.
The agency’s argument is the legislation doesn’t spell out exactly what the port will be expected to do. It’s not clear if the port would continue to service the airport, although it will not be the operating body. Also in limbo are Port District employees, including harbor police and maintenance crews.
Although the airport is under the umbrella of the port, it runs as a separate agency with separate accounting and pays the port for services provided.
“I had no idea we could end up over $20 million on the port side in the red,” Commissioner Steve Cushman said at a recent meeting.
If AB-93 is approved, the port could continue to collect fees for off-site parking, rental car surcharges and rent from property on tidelands near the airport, but not on the 526-acre airport property, according to Jim Hutzelman, a port spokesman.
On-site parking fees, for example, would remain a part of the airport and transfer to the new authority, as would rent from Avis, Hertz and National rental car services, which are on Harbor Island.
Hutzelman said overall airport operations account for about 50 percent of the port’s $210 million in annual revenue. The potential loss of $24 million accounts for payment the port receives for services directly provided to the airport. Hutzelman said a more accurate financial analysis will be presented at the next port commissioners meeting Oct. 2.
In the meantime, board chairman Frank Urtasun appointed commissioners Cushman and Jess Van Deventer to a special subcommittee to review the finances associated with the legislation.
“I support a regional airport authority,” Cushman said. “But I don’t support tearing this port apart.
“It (AB-93) makes less sense to me every single day.”
