POUGHKEEPSIE- In her final act as County Comptroller, Robin Lois released a follow-up audit report on Dutchess County’ Hudson Valley Regional Airport in Wappinger.
Last month, Lois announced that she would resign as Dutchess Comptroller to become deputy to State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Following her resignation, the Dutchess County Legislature appointed former Legislative Chairman Gregg Pulver to serve as comptroller.
Lois first reported on the airport in 2019 following years of poor financial performance. The initial report indicated the airport made progress toward financial stability, beginning at a loss of $631,591 in 2012 and progressing to a slight profit of $63,332 in 2017. The purpose of her follow-up audit was to assess financial performance since 2019.
In her follow-up audit report, which examines the period of January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2022, Lois said the airport has demonstrated a trend of losses for the last three years with the highest being a loss of $355,402 in 2021.
One of the reasons for the losses, says Lois, is the cost associated with the ongoing remediation of PFAS contaminates at the airport site. According to the report, as of December 31, 2022, the county has spent $533,351 in PFAS expenses, with an anticipated minimum spend of $1 million for further remediation in the coming years.
The report cites several new sources of revenue that will help close the financial gap. They include a land lease to Tesla for solar panels, a lease for the development of two parcels to the Sky Harbor Group, and a notable improvement in the vacancy rate in hanger space.
“Like any business operations, the airport requires constant attention and focus to be successful,”Lois said. She also recommended county officials continue competitive marketing investments on behalf of the airport to attract customers.
