By JIM BUTLER

More than $80 million after it began the noise mitigation program initiated with an expanding Alexandria International Airport is nearing an end.

According to England Authority Executive Director Ralph Hennessy about $11.3 million is requested for the noise program in the fiscal year that began July 1.

Funding is 90 percent by the FAA and 10 percent by the DOTD aviation trust fund. Hennessy estimates in his budget message the program will run one or two more years.

The program centers around the Rapides Station area, purchasing property, relocating residents and demolishing structures.

Property owners are offered an appraised value of their holding and have the option of accepting or not. There is no expropriation or eminent domain. Participation is voluntary.

The Authority’s operating budget pales in comparison to improvements costs funded by state and federal grants.

Operating revenues, aviation division and airpark division, are estimated at $16.3 million, with use of $2.5 million prior years’ earnings for Authority-funded capital improvement.

Expenses are estimated at $15.7 million for maintaining operations plus a half-million dollars for capital equipment and transfer of $2.7 million to capital projects.

A general pay increase of 3 percent is budgeted though payroll expense is skewed somewhat due to full-year inclusion of salaries and wages incurred when a third-party housing management vendor elected not to renew its contract last November.

Hennessy expects extension of a runway, from 7,001 feet to 8,500, to be finished in December. It is a $30 million project.

Expansions are planned for the South and North Ramps, at $5.1 million and $21.7 million (FFA grants sought) and $7-$9 million is sought for the Aviation Career & Education Program hanger (state and federal).