EDITORIAL

The Orange County Board of Supervisors raised parking rates and other

fees at John Wayne Airport last week to offset massive financial losses

incurred after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The new security requirements at airports across the nation have cost

those airports a bundle. JWA officials estimate their loss at $4.5

million and say the new price hikes will shrink their losses to $2.9

million.

Now, we’re all for security, especially in the aftermath of Sept. 11;

however, we must question this fee hike.

Perhaps it’s time the county rededicates some of the $11 million in

JWA revenue now going to the El Toro Local Redevelopment Authority. If

the county reroutes a good $4 million of that toward the airport that

earned it, then more modest fee increases could be made at JWA to offset

the remaining losses.

Instead, last week, the supervisors supported raising all-day public

parking at the airport from $11 to $17 -- or a 5% increase -- and

terminal parking lot fees from $7 to $12 -- a 71% increase. Monthly

parking permits would jump from $35 to $50.

Supervisor Todd Spitzer supported the increases, saying: “Security

doesn’t come without a price. It is our responsibility to act on this

without any hesitation.”

We can’t argue with the security portion, but it is the supervisors’

responsibility to act in the best interest of the county across the

board. Security is a must, but so is fiscal responsibility. The

supervisors could have hesitated an instant, if only to remember that

other money is available.

Indeed, JWA officials learned this month that the federal government

will give them another $700,000 to defray security costs.

We urge the supervisors to consider all the alternatives before

raising any more fees.