Airport versus gallery.
My original statement that the airport is in effect one of the most heavily subsidised activities of council still stands despite Cr Faulkner introducing and airport versus gallery matter into the story. This was never about the airport and the gallery; both are proper activities of council as are libraries, swimming pools, parks and reserves etc.
All are important activities of a vibrant and growing city. The point I was making is that the airport, rightly or wrongly is not user pays but is ratepayer funded by virtue of the rentals it receives from the industrial land leases nearby. In the 2011/12 financial year budgeted airport operating expenses of $2.6million are funded by aeronautical revenue of $1.6million a shortfall of $1million that is met by industrial land rentals of $2.5million.
There would be few activities of council that would not meet Cr Faulkner's definition of being 'self funding 'and 'user pays” i.e. non ratepayer funded were they to enjoy the luxury of such levels of non-core income. I am not saying this is wrong I am just asking for Cr Faulkner to be fair and transparent in his writing on council matters.

Graeme Horsley, Mount Maunganui.