Simko said officials told him DOT plans to decrease its contribution toward capital projects, such as the town's runway reconstruction, by 50 percent. Instead of major capital projects being split 90 percent federal, 5 percent state and 5 percent local, the state plans to pay only 2.5 percent starting in 2004, he said. That shifts more of the project costs to the town, Simko explained. "This jeopardizes a necessary and worthwhile project," Simko said.

Ron Roy, DOT director of the office of passenger transportation, said Friday that in its biennial transportation improvement program, or BTIP, DOT initially identified a $5.6 million need for the aviation bond program, which included a federal match for larger projects and state-local funds for other projects. That later was scaled back to $3.6 million. Of that funded amount, $1.6 million is earmarked for a new hangar at Presque Isle and $1 million is targeted for the continued upgrade of the Arch Hangar at Loring Commerce Centre. That leaves $1 million, half of what DOT needs to make a 5 percent match for aviation projects. "We're reviewing everything at this point," Roy said.

Greg Nadeau, DOT director of policy and communication, said Friday that the department is evaluating all of the aviation project requests, and also is contemplating requesting additional funds from the Legislature when it returns next year.

Nadeau said communities were made aware DOT was considering a reduction in its contribution to aviation projects, but he stressed that no final decision has yet been made.

If the reduction is made, Greenville's share of the proposed $1.5 million to $1.6 million runway reconstruction would increase from $150,000 to about $225,000, Simko said Friday. "They've made a difficult situation nearly impossible," he said.

Any change in funding would be a bitter pill for a town that has struggled over the years to find creative ways to raise the local share of projects. "These monies were dedicated; now all of a sudden they're hacked just arbitrarily," Board Chairman Eugene Murray said this week.

Simko said the airport provides an important service to the region. Because of its regional focus, town officials are exploring their options about changing the airport's status from municipal to regional. This could open the door for contributions from Piscataquis and Somerset counties since residents in unorganized townships also use the facility.

Until then, town officials might be forced to borrow funds for the needed runway reconstruction if the state reduces it contribution, Simko said.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Saturday, November 22, 2003 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."