The authority is currently tabulating figures on what it will need from Halifax and Northampton counties and the city of Roanoke Rapids to operate the rest of the fiscal year, King said.

At its meeting Thursday, city council approved a budget amendment giving the authority, $1,371, or 25 percent of the requested $5,300. Halifax agreed to give them its 50 percent share while Northampton was requested to give its 25 percent share.

King said the authority never requested full funding from Roanoke Rapids and Halifax and Northampton counties for this fiscal year because it was unsure of when the airport would open.

Rather than overstate its needs the authority used money it had left over for operating costs. “Operating costs have always been, even when the city operated its airport, a local responsibility,” King said.

The airport authority receives 50 percent of its operating expenses from Halifax County. Northampton and the city each pay 25 percent.

That the airport is having a tough time paying its bills as City Manager Paul Sabiston stated during the meeting Thursday is “factually correct,” King said. “The context is we didn’t request any money.”

King said the authority realized it would not have enough for operating expenses this fiscal year after only requesting a token amount because the airport’s opening date was in question.

The authority is also expected to request more funds to get it through the remainder of this fiscal year although the exact amount of the request is not known.

For the upcoming fiscal year the authority will request the full amount. When the city operated the airport off Highway 158 operating costs were about $120,000 a year. With inflation that figure could be slightly more. It would be split among the three jurisdictions using the 50-25-25 formula.