What do you do when there is a shortfall of money in city, county and state budgets? Unemployment is high, jobs are hard to find. How about going to the state and asking for money? The state has deep pockets, so let’s ask for $100,000. That’s only one-tenth of a million dollars! What do “we” want this money for? Why, a study, of course.
Sen. Dave Schmidt of Mill Creek has a bill in Olympia for a Snohomish County study to determine the feasibility of passenger air service and what Paine Field could provide.
Senator, just to bring you up to date, as we say in some meetings, this has been studied. Many meetings with government elected officials, private citizens, public and private sectors, schools, and the governor and others in transportation in Olympia, and a commuter airline.
The results were that Paine Field did not fill the full needs of a commuter airfield. The airline also did not know how many of the passengers using Sea-Tac did in fact come from Snohomish County, or where they were going after they left Sea-Tac. A commuter air service did operate at Paine Field, but found it did not generate enough revenue to sustain operations there. Much time, staff time and money were spent on this heated study, and it was agreed that the Mediated Role Determination had merit. Even the Puget Sound Regional Council removed Paine Field from further consideration.
I believe you are trying to do what you think is good for the state, but we don’t need to spend $100,000 on something that was decided years ago.
Former City Council member
Mukilteo
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