A Pennsylvania House bill aims to change the structure of the governing boards at airport authorities in certain counties.
The legislation would require all appointees, except the gubernatorial appointee, to be residents of the county where the authority is located. It would also require appointees to have substantial experience or expertise in aviation, airport operations, budgeting, economic development or finance.
Appointees would be limited to three consecutive terms on the board. The county executive would appoint eight members and the governor, president pro tempore of the Senate, the speaker of the House and minority leaders in both chambers would each appoint one member.
Airport authority members currently are appointed by county chief executives. Current members’ terms would expire 60 days after the bill becomes law, but they can be reappointed.
The bill is in response to concerns about gross mismanagement and conflicts regarding the Allegheny County Airport Authority. The authority oversees Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County Airport is the only airport authority in the state receiving state government subsidies.
The authority has received $31.4 million in Pennsylvania Department of Transportation funding, nearly $9 million in low-interest loans, approximately $36 million in state economic and redevelopment grants since 2004, and annual allotments of $12.4 million in state gaming revenues since 2017.