The city of Fort Worth’s wasn’t the only budget the city council approved Tuesday night. They also passed the fiscal year 2019 budget of just over $1 billion for the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
In the pre-council work session, DFW Airport Chief Financial Officer Chris Poinsatte made a presentation to the council. He said a record passenger forecast of 73.3 million passengers, an increase of 6 percent and the largest increase in 15 years, is projected.
The budget is an increase of $56.8 million, or 6 percent, from last year.Â
The FY 2019 Budget must be submitted to the City Managers of Dallas and Fort Worth by mid-August and approved by the two City Councils by the end of September.
Poinsatte said among non-airline revenue, there will be no increase in public parking rates. However, they still expect to raise around $175 million, an increase of about $10 million, because of the increased amount of passengers.
Poinsatte said in tax sharing from the past year, Fort Worth received $6.2 million and Dallas $7.1 million.
“DFW really is an incredible part of what we do. It’s an incredible airport,” Mayor Betsy Price said. “Their growth, their focus on being green, the only carbon-neutral airport around, that is just amazing.”
Then, Price praised DFW and American Airline officials for getting the daughter of slain Fort Worth police officer Garrett Hull from London to John Peter Smith Hospital in swift time. Price noted she was upgraded to first class and sped through customs to try and get her to her father as he was lying in critical condition.
“From the time her plane landed, she was at the hospital and in her mother’s arms in 34 minutes,” Price said. “That’s phenomenal.”
Officer Hull passed away later Friday.