The Josephine County Board of Commissioners has approved a $3 million interest-free loan from the county’s general fund to support the long-awaited runway extension project at the Grants Pass Airport in Merlin. While the decision pushes the 700-foot runway expansion closer to construction, it also raises important questions about financial responsibility, long-term planning, and procedural preparedness.
The runway extension project, which has been in planning for more than a decade, is expected to improve emergency response capacity and attract new business opportunities to the region. Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-August and be completed by late October. The county hopes to recover the $3 million in expenses through reimbursement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and state-level grants.
Airport Manager Michael Crisafulli provided a detailed project overview, explaining that construction is scheduled to begin in mid-August and wrap up by late October. The cost is estimated between $2.5 million and $3 million. Crisafulli stated that the funding would be fronted by the general fund but repaid in two installments: $1.7 million in January and the remainder by late summer 2026. He assured the Board that no more than $2 million would likely be needed at one time due to the payment schedule and that nearly all the funds were covered by 15 federal and state grants. Only about $51,000 in funds would come from airport revenues.
While Crisafulli expressed confidence in the funding strategy, the fact remains that all 15 grants must still be formally written, submitted, and approved—a process that requires considerable coordination, oversight, and labor. At present, it is unclear who is responsible for preparing the full suite of grant applications or whether a contingency plan exists should one or more grants fall through. These concerns are at the heart of ongoing criticism surrounding the Board’s decision.
During Tuesday’s board meeting, Commissioner Ron Smith urged his colleagues to delay the vote in order to allow more public review. He stated that while he supports the runway expansion, the optics and timing of moving general fund money without grant guarantees are problematic. “All the public sees is $3 million leaving the general fund right after we’ve laid off employees,” he said. “Let’s give this a little more time.”
Commissioner Barnett defended the decision, characterizing it as a calculated and necessary step toward progress. “We’re always stuck in the past,” he said. “If we don’t take this opportunity now, we might lose it forever.” Barnett cited his background in the Air Force and his familiarity with airport infrastructure to argue that the extension would benefit both commercial growth and wildfire mitigation.
Commissioner Andreas Blech also defended the funding plan, claiming that it would result in “zero cost” to the general fund, given that grants would cover all expenses. However, former Director of Juvenile Justice, Jim Goodwin challenged that assertion, pointing out that the county’s general fund is currently invested in interest-bearing accounts earning approximately 4% annually. If the full $3 million is withdrawn for one year, the county stands to lose up to $120,000 in interest earnings—an indirect cost to taxpayers. Goodwin argued that calling the loan “interest-free” ignores the lost revenue and financial risk involved.
As someone who supports the runway extension and the vision it represents for Josephine County, I continue to stand by my previous concerns. Progress is important—but so is financial prudence. Call me old-fashioned, but I was taught to have the money in hand before spending it. And if we’re going to borrow from ourselves, paying it back with a reasonable interest rate seems only fair. At the very least, it would acknowledge the cost of diverting public funds from their intended purposes.
The Board’s decision may accelerate long-term infrastructure goals, but it also highlights a fundamental challenge in public finance: balancing ambition with accountability. With the county already facing strained resources and recent staff reductions, residents deserve clear answers—particularly about who will complete the labor-intensive grant applications and what fallback plan is in place if some of that money doesn’t arrive.
For now, the project proceeds. But whether the financial roadmap holds together without burdening the county’s general fund remains to be seen.