Program Budget Request – Activity A: Required Questions Form
Ohio Department of Transportation (DOT01)
This form should be completed online at the Budget Portal.
https://obm.sp.ohio.gov/sites/budget_center/
Please refer to Page 17 of the Operating
Budget Guidance for instructions on completing this form.
Program Number (ex. 1234A)& Program Name: / 4981B / Aviation Improvement Program
FY2010
Actual / FY2011
Estimate / FY2012
Request / FY2013
Request
Total Program
Expenditures / $1,722,826 / $1,511,288 / $1,374,549 / $1,387,782
FTE
Expenditures / $0 / $0 / $0 / $0
Funded FTEs / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
1. What is the purpose of the program? What existing problem, interest, or need does this program address?
The purposes of the program are to improve airport safety and security, preserve infrastructure and promote economic development. Airport safety is improved by performing airport inspections and funding of obstruction removal projects. Pavement maintenance projects promote both safety and infrastructure preservation. Airport safety is also promoted through enforcement of airport safety regulations, data collection, and through enforcement of the Ohio Airport Projection Act, which requires a permit for tall structures near airports. Airport security is promoted through requirements for Airport Security Plans.a. Who are the beneficiaries of this program?
The beneficiaries of this program are the General Aviation public, including aircraft owners and operators, passengers, and businesses that use aviation or provide aviation products and services. Benefits occur in the form of reductions in accidents, injuries and damage to property, and in the form of increased economic activity.b. Are expenditures of this program limited to specific geographic areas and/or population groups? If so, please discuss the specific areas and/or population groups served.
Expenditures of the Ohio Airport Grant Program can be made to publicly owned airports in 84 of Ohio’s 88 counties. Airport safety inspections and enforcement of the Ohio Airport Protection Act occur in all of Ohio’s counties.c. If this is a regulatory program, describe the regulated community and how this program impacts the community.
The regulatory elements of the program affect airport owners, both public and private, and individuals who propose to build structures above a certain height near public use airports. The impacts on airport owners are to require that minimum standards for safety are met, including standards for runway length, runway condition, approach slopes and obstructions (e.g., trees, terrain, utility lines and buildings). The impact on individuals wishing to build near runways is to find building locations and heights that do not interfere with the safety of airport operations.2. Describe the services or activities provided.
a. Briefly describe the nature of the services provided.
Safety inspections of 157 non commercial service public use airports are performed on a three year cycle. As part of the inspection process, information is given to the airport sponsor for use in improving the airport’s safety environment (i.e., trees that can be trimmed or removed).Pavement Condition Inspections are also performed on a three year cycle. These inspections generate a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) for all paved areas at publicly owned non-commercial service Ohio airports. This data is used to determine maintenance needs and in the selection of pavement maintenance projects for the Ohio Airport Grant Program.
The Ohio Airport Grant Program issues grants to publicly owned airports covering 90% of the cost of obstruction removal or pavement resurfacing/reconstruction, not including project design. To be eligible for grants for obstruction removal or pavement maintenance an airport must have a current Airport Safety Plan that complies with Transportation Security Agency guidelines. Ninety-nine publicly owned Ohio airports are eligible for the Ohio Airport Grant Program. The program does not provide funds to the airports that receive FAA passenger entitlements (six airports) or air cargo entitlements (one airport).
To enforce the Ohio Airport Protection Act, the Office of Aviation receives copies of the Federal form required for all proposed construction within a specified distance of an airport runway. In conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Office of Aviation determines if the proposed structure would be an obstruction to navigation. If the proposed structure will not be an obstruction, a permit is issued. If it is determined that the proposed structure would be an obstruction, the permit is withheld. As a rule, negotiations with the building proponent result in a modified location and/or design such that the building will not be an obstruction, and then the permit is issued.
b. Provide estimates of the volume of services that will be provided at this funding level: number of people served, amount of assistance provided, number of awards that will be made, dollar amount of awards, etc.
Between 50 and 55 airport safety inspections will be performed at airports throughout the state, and roughly the same number of airport pavement inspections; the Ohio Airport Grant Program will fund projects at four to six airports totaling approximately $800,000 with dollar amount of awards ranging from $50,000 to $250,000. Enforcement of the Ohio Airport Protection Act will promote airport safety statewide, and is especially important because of the number of proposed wind turbines in western and northern Ohio.c. Are there any service benchmarks established by the state, federal government or private industry?
The Office of Aviation maintains a Pavement Condition Index, or PCI, for pavement at publicly owned Ohio general aviation airports. Average PCI for runways, taxiways and aprons is used as a benchmark for pavement maintenance. Improvements in airport safety due to obstruction removal can be measured in terms of reductions in the number of displaced runway thresholds and the distance of the displacements.3. If applicable, describe activities or services that cannot be maintained or will be eliminated at this funding level. Please address service volume impacts, potential waiting lists, etc, as compared to FY2011.
The Ohio Airport Grant Program will probably be reduced by 30% or more. As a result, average PCI for the airport system will decline, and some safety enhancements would have to be deferred.Estimated average PCI will be 75.4 in FY2012 at the current funding level, and will be 72.3 at the reduced funding level, a decline of 3.1 points.
It is more difficult to quantify the effect on safety that will be caused by the reduction in funding for obstruction removal projects. A $50,000 project could prevent an accident involving millions in loss of life and property.
4. Discuss any variances in funded FTEs from FY 2011 through FY 2013 and what has necessitated these changes.
a. Describe how variances affect currently provided services and activities.
Not applicable.b. Describe how variances affect planned services and activities.
Not applicable.5. Are there any other state programs or projects that duplicate or overlap with the work of this program? Identify them and describe how efficiencies and service delivery could be improved by the creation of multiagency service agreements, insourcing, back office sharing, or consolidation of the activity into a single agency.
No other state programs or projects provide funding for airport pavement maintenance, obstruction removal, airport safety inspections or enforcement of the Ohio Airport Protection Act.6. In the last several years, what internal or external factors have contributed to the cost of this program? Describe any demographic trends, caseload trends, technology trends, changes in federal funding or regulations, customer requirements that are impacting the cost of this program.
Program costs have been fairly stable over the last several years. Pavement project costs increased substantially in the years 2006 - 2007 due to increases in the cost of oil; and therefore, asphalt and fuel for construction equipment; but since 2007, project costs have returned to the earlier level in line with decreases in oil prices.7. Please identify ORC, temp law, OBM policies, logistical or operational challenges that have limited or challenged this program’s effectiveness and/or efficiency. Indicate whether any budget language is necessary to help implement this program.
Not applicable.8. Please describe how the effectiveness and efficiency of this program is gauged? In your response, please include how often evaluations take place, if and how data are published, and if this budget request reflects the outcome of those evaluations.
The time required to complete projects under the Ohio Airport Grant Program has been reduced substantially over the last several years. Projects are closed out by the end of the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the grant was issued, and most are closed out much sooner. As of September, 2010, 87% of project funds for the FY 2010 grant program have been disbursed, and the remainder is expected to be disbursed within 30 days.9. Describe cost-saving measures and operational efficiencies that have been implemented to contain or reduce program costs in the current biennium and further measures that will be undertaken in the 2012-2013 biennium.
a. Describe the savings that have been realized as a result of those changes.
Two positions (Aviator 2) have been vacated and have not been filled. Therefore, by not filling these positions and not purchasing office supplies and equipment; more funding has become available to issue grants.b. Describe the cost-saving measures and operational efficiencies that will be undertaken in the 2012-2013 biennium to contain or reduce program costs and the savings that are expected as a result of those changes.
Positions will not be filled and equipment and supplies will not be acquired unless absolutely needed.10. Fully describe the various sources of funds that will support this program and the method used for distribution.
The Ohio Airport Grant Program, in FY 2011 had received approximately $440,000 from aircraft registration receipts, and approximately $370,000 from 5W90, for a total grant program of $810,000. Salaries for airport inspections are paid from GRF, and the State is reimbursed for 51 inspections at $550 each, $28,050 total, which is deposited back into GRF. All remaining funding for Ohio Airport Protection Act enforcement, etc., came from GRF. Funding is provided in ALI 777-471 (GRF), ALI 777-472 (7002), and ALI 777-615 (5W90).Include the following as appropriate:
a. If this program is supported by a fund(s) that supports more than one program, what impact will there be on the other programs?
Not applicable.b. If this program passes funds to other state or local entities, please describe the distribution process including allocation methodology and formulas used. If methodology is in statute, cite the statute and provide a brief summary of the process or methodology.
Airport sponsors (cities, counties, airport and port authorities) wishing to obtain an Ohio Airport Grant must submit applications to the Office of Aviation by May 1 for the Fiscal Year that starts on the following July 1. Applications are reviewed for eligibility, and eligible projects are then ranked using a scoring matrix. Points are awarded based on criteria that include: Effect on safety or PCI, number of based aircraft, the airport’s economic impact, the airport’s performance in maintaining its pavement, and percentage of local match.c. Do fees support this program? If so, please be prepared to provide additional fee information if requested by your budget analyst. Such information may include statutory reference for authorization of such fees, current fee amounts, the last time that each fee was increased, and if the fee has a sunset provision.
ORC 4561.17 – 4561.20 stipulates that the State collect an annual license tax on all aircraft based in the state. This registration fee produces approximately $440,000 per year which is dedicated to funding part of the Ohio Airport Grant Program. The current fee is $15 per seat, with a fixed fee of $15 for gliders and balloons. The last time the fee was changed was in 2006, when the fee was changed from $100 per aircraft to $15 per seat. There is no sunset provision for this fee.d. List all federal grants and funding that are anticipated including any state match requirements associated with this particular request. Please specify amount and source of proposed match. Discuss how federal estimates reflect actual or potential changes in growth of federal spending.
In Federal FY 2011, FAA funding will pay $33,800 for 52 airport safety inspections. There is no state match.e. What is the total federal grant that Ohio is eligible to receive? What is the additional state match amount needed to obtain this full allocation?
Ohio is eligible to receive FAA System Planning Grants on an ad hoc basis. There is no cap on amount, although recent System Planning Grants have ranged from $50,000 to $350,000. System Planning Grants are not issued every year. State match is 5% of total project cost, and FAA usually allows force account to be used for the local match. It is not currently anticipated the State will receive any System Planning Grants in the new biennium.f. What is the level of Maintenance of Effort (MOE) required, if any? What are the implications of this request in relation to that requirement?
Not applicable.11. Please provide any additional information concerning this program not included above that will serve to assist in the analysis of this request. Be concise.
Anticipated grant annual GRF funding for airport grants in FY 2012 – FY 2013 is $370,000. This amount is a small fraction of the amount of state funding needed to maintain airport pavement at the current PCI ($10M, based on Office of Aviation estimates). Safety enhancement projects must also be funded from this program.The Ohio Airport System includes 105 publicly owned airports which are owned by counties, cities, airport authorities, and port authorities. Most of the airports were built in the 1960’s. The system includes the equivalent of over 1380 lane miles of pavement, of which approximately one-third is currently in need of major rehabilitation. Ohio’s airports generate $10.5B in total economic activity, including $3.2B in payroll and 142,800 jobs.
FTE Defined: 2,080 hours worked per year equals one FTE. For budget development purposes, OBM uses this method of calculating personnel levels. Anything less than 2080 hours per year should be counted as a proportionate percentage of an FTE (ie. 1040 hours per year equals .5 FTE).
Funded FTE Defined: Having both cash and appropriation to support the FTE.
FY 2012-2013 Biennial Budget Request
Program Budget Request: Required Questions Form