Privatize the Sunport?
It is no secret that cities all over the country including our own Albuquerque are facing mounting budgetary problems. Chicago just received $2.5 billion in exchange for leasing the airport to a private company. Once debt is paid off, Chicago is expected to receive $1 billion from the privatization.
Albuquerque's Sunport is owned by the City of Albuquerque and receives taxpayer funding. There is no doubt, however, that a private, profit-making company could do a better job while also providing resources in the form of lease payments to the City. With impending belt-tightening including recent cuts of $15 million, Albuquerque's elected leadership should consider painless ways to access needed funding.
The win-win for taxpayers is that they get a better-run airport and save money at the same time.