In case some of you have the time and are willing to write a note, Sure would help out keeping Aviation $'s in Aviation.
Only 10% of the Excise Tax goes to Aviation, the rest goes to the General Fund!!
Thanks



AOPA and state aviation organizations have been working for two years to try to get this legislation passed. A newly formed Washington State Aviation Alliance is expected to add additional support for the bills. But, pilots need to contact their legislators—in numbers—to help determine where their aircraft excise tax dollars will go.
“Our members need to band together to get this legislation passed so that their hard-earned money is reinvested in aviation in the state, not in a multitude of other nonaviation-related projects in the general fund,” said Ulane, who will be testifying in support of the bills Jan. 28 during a hearing before the state Senate Committee on Transportation. Ulane also will testify before the House Appropriations Committee; a hearing date has not yet been set.
Pilots and aircraft owners must speak up because the state has a $3.5 billion shortfall over the next 20 years that will negatively impact the safety and improvement requirements of the state’s public-use airports. Allocating all of the aircraft excise tax revenue would prevent an increase in the tax while providing more revenue and opening up more opportunities for the state to use more than $9 million in federal funds.
“Without these additional resources to adequately fund, maintain, and improve Washington State’s airport system, there is significant risk of diminishing the total $51 billion economic impact and 248,000 jobs created by the state’s airports,” Ulane said.
The only other primary source of funding for the aeronautics division is an $0.11-per-gallon tax on non-airline/non-military aviation fuel.
The bills have bipartisan support and are co-sponsored by AOPA members Rep. Tom Dent and Sen. Mark Hargrove, as well as members of the Washington Legislative Aviation Caucus. Several aviation organizations also are advocating for the bill, including the Washington Airport Management Association, Washington State Community Airports Association, National Business Aviation Association, Pacific Northwest Business Aviation Association, Washington Pilots Association, Washington Seaplane Pilots Association, Washington Public Ports Association, Washington Aviation Association, and Recreational Aviation Foundation.
Washington state AOPA members are encouraged to contact their legislators and Senate Transportation Committee Co-Chairs Curtis King and Don Benton to urge their support for the bill. Letters can be mailed to Washington State Senate Committee on Transportation, 311 J.A. Cherberg Bldg., P.O. Box 40468, Olympia, WA 98504-0468.
Link to article in AOPA Magazine