Fiscal Responsibility

By Victor H "Vic" Bouquet

The SMPAD Board of Directors must apply prudent finacial management policies whenever making decisions involving the District's fiscal resources.

In order to avoid any misunderstanding I want to emphasize my support for attempting to promote better air service for Santa Maria. Please read my accompanying Position Paper regarding air service. My concern in this instance is that the District should not place itself in the position of financing commercial air lines even though they may be offering improved air service for our area.

I have also gone on record at several Board meetings supporting the concept that the SMPAD should attempt, whenever feasible, to operate at least at a break-even level in all of its operating areas. This fiscal approach has resulted in an increase in hangar rental fees which has understandably proven to be very unpopular with our hangar tenants. In December 1999 the Board passed Resolution 613 that established a formula based on verifiable audited financial parameters to determine hangar rents for the following year. Resolution 613 is still in effect and, unless recinded, will continue to set hangar rents in the future that will help to maintain an approximate break-even finacial operating level for the hangar cost center. I continue to support this approach.