Congress Keeps Funding Little-Used Airports ($150k for one used mostly as a bathroom)
While federal agencies brace for what might soon be $85 billion in automatic budget cuts, tax dollars are continuing to support tiny airports across the nation, some of which are virtually empty.
There are hundreds of small airports that receive federal funding, with at least 80 that are vacant of planes and passengers, according to The Washington Post.
One example is Lake Murray State Park Airport in Oklahoma, recipient of $150,000 annually from Washington. The airport consists of a field with no landing lights, no electricity, no control tower, and no people to operate it. There is, on average, one landing and takeoff a week, and often is used by passing private planes whose pilots need to use the bathroom.
“This is a direct gift from your congressman and senators,” Victor Bird, director of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, which handles the money the government allots for Lake Murray, told the Post. “Everybody’s going to get something here, and we’re going to take some.”
http://www.allgov.com/news/where-is-the-money-going/congress-keeps-funding-little-used-airports-130227?news=847199
Airport Operational Statistics
Aircraft operations: 100/year *
100% transient general aviation
* for 12-month period ending 13 November 2009
http://www.airnav.com/airport/1F1
Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission votes against closing Lake Murray State Park Airport
Despite requests by the state Tourism Department and their own director, who recommended voting to close, the commission unanimously voted against moving forward to shutter the airport.
Oklahoma Aeronautics Commissioners prolonged the life of Lake Murray State Park Airport in Ardmore on Thursday despite the request of the state Tourism and Recreation Department — and the commission's own director — to close the rarely used airstrip.
The commission considered asking the Federal Aviation Administration to close the facility, which is adjacent to Lake Murray Lodge and Lake Murray Golf Course. The Aeronautics Commission and Tourism Department are joint sponsors of the site.
But after debating the airport's viability and usefulness, commissioners voted 6-0 against closing it — going against commission Director Victor Bird's recommendation.
Their concerns included giving up the ability to accept $150,000 in federal money each year, in the form of non-primary entitlement funds, that can be transferred to other airports. Roughly $1 million has been received since 2001, not including $600,000 in the bank that probably will be transferred next year.
http://newsok.com/oklahoma-aeronautics-commission-votes-against-closing-lake-murray-state-park-airport/article/3693864
= new reply since forum marked as read
And there is one 6 miles away:
"With Ardmore Downtown Executive Airport just six miles from Lake Murray State Park Airport, Bird says the airstrip sees five to ten landings a month during peak season, and sometimes no landings at all during low season. Bird says it's more important for the OAC to invest FAA funds on airports with more traffic."
"
and won't be out of a job since most the funding for the airport is sent elsewhere.
And I agree with you about wanting to keep jobs 
"In 2008, for instance, the government gave Oklahoma $150,000 to make improvements at Lake Murray. The state spent about $5,500 of that on Lake Murray. The rest went to a build a terminal at a busier airport in Duncan.
And that turned out to be a good year for Lake Murray. Since then, it hasn't seen a dime. "
and:
"That's because of a bill Congress passed in 2000 that created a new "entitlement" program for small airports. The rules: If a field was on the FAA's official airports list, and if it had sufficient need for infrastructure improvements, there would be money. Up to $150,000, every year.
The money was paid out of a "trust fund" filled by taxes on airline tickets and airplane fuel.
On Capitol Hill, this looked like a master stroke of pork politics, engineered by then-House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bud Shuster, R-Pa. His measure carpet-bombed congressional districts with money. In the Senate, the bill won by 65 votes. In the House, it won by 218. (Shuster retired in 2001. He did not return a call for comment about the legislation).
http://www.adn.com/2013/02/26/2803070/tiny-barely-used-airports-refuel.html
Basically - yes, jobs are created since there is money given and spent, but not for that airport (and since they have not spent a dime on it in years most likely the park handles the bathroom since it is on their land).
This could be changed so the airports that need that money get it, the park can close that one down and expand like they want to bring in more tourists, which will raise more money for the park and create jobs there as well.
But since not a dime has been spent from that money on the airport in year...who pays for the toilet paper?
Or do they use any.... 
The deficit will be paid down in no time! 
