"George Patterson" wrote in message
news:_WrBf.15463$Me5.5086@trnddc05...
Jay Beckman wrote:

Considering how much dinero the state of Arizona wants for me to register
earth-bound vehicles, I would have supposed it costs far more to register
an aircraft than it would appear it does.

Arizona uses the auto registration money to support roads for those autos.
How much does Arizona spend on facilities for aircraft?

George Patterson

I think Arizona pilots are getting their fare share of Government monies:

From:

http://www.azdot.gov/aviation/index.asp

I found this report on Arizona's five year aviation plan:

http://shorterlink.com/?ZIRW7N

And then you have this from AOPA's Regional Affairs section:

------- Begin Quote -----
May 27, 2004 - In a textbook example of unified general aviation interests,
airports, pilots, and aviation advocates have put two measures on the desk
of Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-Ariz.) that should significantly increase state
funding for airport safety and capacity improvements and reduce aviation
taxes.

AOPA Western Regional Representative Stacy Howard and Michael Racy, the
Airport Support Network volunteer for Marana Regional Airport and a
registered lobbyist who represents the Tucson Airport Authority and Pima
County, helped convince lawmakers to use 100% of the state's
aviation-related tax and fee revenues to help fix general aviation airports.
The two also helped win approval for SB1020, a bill to reduce the state's
tax on antique aircraft.

During the budget crunch of the past several fiscal years, Arizona had
diverted approximately half ($7 million to $8 million annually) of the
aviation fuel taxes, aircraft registration fees, and aircraft property taxes
the state collects to the general fund. Governor Napolitano this year
proposed rededicating all those aviation taxes to help maintain airports - a
move strongly supported by AOPA and this week approved by state lawmakers.

Howard testified before both legislative chambers supporting SB1020. The
measure cuts the tax on an estimated 700 "antique" aircraft from 0.5% of
value to a flat $20 annual fee. AOPA members in Arizona played a big role,
contacting legislators and convincing them to remove procedural hurdles to
the bill's passage.

----- End Quote -----

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
AZ Cloudbusters
Chandler, AZ