NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) – As dozens of airports across the state work to enhance airfield safety and infrastructure, the North Platte Airport Authority is taking steps to ensure the momentum to improve Lee Bird Field continues.
This week, airport manager Justin Gosnell pitched the board’s budget to the city council that includes funding for the construction of a new $30 million terminal building.
The renovation project is primarily being funded by federal dollars. So far, the board has secured $22 million in federal funding to help pay for the improvements.
While the airport authority has yet to approve their budget, preliminary figures show they’re proposing a $1.988 million tax request to help pay for the renovation project, which is about a 42 percent increase from last year.
“The preliminary projection of bond is around $5 million depending on where the levy comes in and our property valuations and we’ll need to do a %10 percent over that unforeseen cost on that,” said Gosnell. “Otherwise, it’s a pretty flat budget if you take away the bonding for the project.”
Gosnell said construction to upgrade the 72-year-old facility is expected to be begin in March of next year, with a completion date in the spring of 2026.
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