Doug wrote:
Having an airport is a point of pride in a community and
there is a safety aspect so far as medical transport goes.

Not really. You can helo someone out of a town without an airport.

But maybe
raising the aviation fuel tax would be appropriate here, trying to get
GA to pay it's way.

Are you kidding me? How about after everyone ELSE starts paying their
way? I promise you, GA contributes more to this country than some woman
on welfare with eight kids...and yet she's NEVER going to pay her way.