By WMBD-TV

BLOOMINGTON – Central Illinois Regional Airport is looking to broaden it’s tax base in the event lawmakers don’t come through with their promises.

CIRA director Carl Olson said the airport has a funding problem.

“It’s become an annual fight and an annual lobbying effort to try and get this continual funding to be provided for our contract tower services,” Olson said.

CIRA receives a large chunk of its funding from state and federal sources, but Twin Cities’ property owners also pay into the pot. Olson would like to see that tax base expand to include all of McLean County.

“The revenue each year would be the same, it simply would be collected across a broader number of people in the county, therefore reducing the individual rate,” Olson said.

Average Bloomington-Normal homeowners would see their property tax bills decrease by around $20, but county residents would see a new tax of nearly $50 on their yearly bills.

There are only two ways for CIRA to change its tax base, either a voter referendum or through the state legislature.

In a letter to the Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority, State Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, said he would not advance legislation to expand the taxing body.

“While the expansion of the taxing district could reduce the per-household tax burden of supporting the facility, it also would create a new tax on thousands of additional families throughout McLean County,” Barickman wrote “I believe this idea still needs more study and discussion.”

Olson said he’ll continue to advocate for the county-wide tax so his airport can plan for the future.

“This would put a tool in the board member’s toolbox to adjust the tax rate as needed to cover the air traffic control costs,” Olson said.

CIRA isn’t alone in trying to increase their tax base. The Quad Cities airport is also looking to expand it’s levy to all of Rock Island County.