Mesa wants financial assist at Gateway

For years, Mesa has cut its subsidies to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in the face of continuing budget crises.

But all along, the city still paid for the lion's share of police and fire protection at the former Air Force Base.

Now, help could be on the way with a policy shift under negotiations between the airport's senior staff and Southeast Valley governments that share ownership of the burgeoning reliever airport.

The move means that Gateway's operational budget, financed by Gilbert, Queen Creek, Mesa, Phoenix and the Gila River Indian Community, would be tapped for a bigger chunk of the rising tab for all emergency services.

The help looms particularly timely for Mesa. In the throes of massive budget cuts and personnel layoffs, the city is on the verge of replacing the 53-year-old, makeshift fire station with a $9 million firehouse and police substation, thanks to a voter-approved bond package this month.

Under current policy, the city is the only member of the airport's five-community governance tagged with providing police protection and the fire station because the airport is in Mesa. And while Mesa alone is stuck with financing the new fire and police structure, other member communities are being asked for the first time to assume some of the law enforcement costs.

They'll also be responsible for higher costs of fire services, a tab that is currently $500,000 a year for two full-time firefighters, their equipment, uniforms and a fire truck.

The existing firehouse, vacated by the Air Force in 1993 when the historic training base entered civilian airport service, also stands in the path of the upcoming passenger terminal expansion. The new station will be built next year near the air traffic control tower. Airport officials say they have tried to keep costs for emergency services at a minimum and that the increase in financial obligation to member communities has not been determined.

The makeup of communities that comprised the airport's original authority and its governing board has changed over the years, but the method of subsidizing Gateway's operations has not.

The weight each community can wield on the governing board is determined by its financial contribution, which is considered a loan that is to be paid back, with interest, when the airport begins operating in the black.

Mesa, for example, is entitled to 78 percent of the vote because of its $1.7 million contribution. The city, however, has never used that leverage. Other contributions: Gilbert, $350,000; Queen Creek, $120,000; Gila River Indian Community, $450,000; Phoenix, $1.3 million.

But wracked with continuing revenue shortfalls, Mesa has continually reduced its airport allotment. What, if any, impact the city's current financial plight will have on future contributions remains to be seen.

In 2,000, for example, the city was contributing $3.51 million. In 2004, it was cut to $2.5 million and reduced again last year to $1.7 million.

"I think that the overall operations have to be shared equitably," said Mesa Councilman Scott Somers of the 6th District that includes the airport. "But police and fire have fallen on us a little bit more."