Southwestern Illinois taxpayers hand airport $160M to keep it open

['Brad Weisenstein', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Vertical-Align Middle .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar Is .Alignleft .Alignright'] Illinois Policy 2025-09-05 21:07:38

Southwestern Illinois taxpayers hand airport $160M to keep it openMidAmerica St. Louis Airport has been a drain on taxpayers since it opened in 1995, requiring money from other county funds to keep it open. St. Clair County taxpayers saw a big leap in what county leaders put towards MidAmerica St. Louis Airport to keep it open during 2024, according to a new audit. Airport operations cost nearly $5 million more last year than in 2023, increasing to $22.54 million. When completed, MetroLink passengers will be able to travel between Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and MidAmerica Airport, but how many will do so remains a question. The question remains: “Why can’t MidAmerica Airport exist without taxpayers bailing it out every year?” After 30 years and over $160 million in subsidies, taxpayers should push MidAmerica from the nest.