MOSES LAKE — Upgrading the military training area at the Grant County International Airport, extending sections of the fire suppression system and changing runways designations are among the projects in Port of Moses Lake’s 2026 capital budget. But Kim DeTrolio, director of finance and administration, said the capital budget is subject to change. 

“We put things in (the capital budget) that are opportunities,” DeTrolio said. “We don’t always spend our capital dollars, and we have a tendency, when an opportunity does present itself, to add that in (to the capital budget).”  

Port commissioners approved the budget and the capital budget at their regular meeting Nov. 24.  

For 2026, the budget for all capital projects is projected at about $5.79 million. The total 2026 budget is $16.07 million. Revenues for 2026 are projected at about $12 million.  

“That does give us a deficit – which we will be reaching into our general fund for that – if we choose to spend all those capital dollars,” DeTrolio said. 

The port hosts military training exercises for all branches of the US military, from establishing a temporary base with little outside support to operations around an airport terminal. The training area is in need of upgrades, however, with construction starting in spring 2026. Estimated cost is $2.79 million, with a $1.2 million loan from the Community Aviation Revitalization Board.  

The system that provides water for fighting fires to two existing businesses is in need of upgrades, DeTrolio said, and the first phase of that project is scheduled for 2026. The cost of upgrading the fire mains to Chemi-Con and Genie is projected at $1 million per year over three years. 

The port will be building an extension of its utility lines at the southwest corner of the airport at an estimated price tag of about $913,500. The port has received a $500,000 grant from Grant County to help pay for the project. 

The capital budget also includes about $750,000 to make repairs to the roof of one of the existing hangars, and about $200,000 for pavement repair.  

The port will be spending about $425,000 to change its runway setup, with engineering and design work starting in 2026. Airport Director Rich Mueller said the plan is to convert one of the existing runways into a taxiway. Mueller said that change reflects the port’s customer base. 

“We have five runways. This is the tiniest one of all of them, and it’s used basically as a taxiway already. With some of the issues that we’ve had with airspace lately, it’s a pattern that would be almost impossible to use (as a runway) with the current customers that we have,” Mueller said. “It’s better to designate it for what we’re really using it for.” 

Total engineering and design cost is projected at about $424,900. The port has received a Federal Aviation Administration grant to pay about 95% of the cost.  

The change is tied into another, longer term project involving the airport’s primary runway, Mueller said.  

“We are changing the designation of the main runway as well, because magnetic north has shifted far enough,” he said. 

Commissioner Darrin Jackson said runway designations must meet specific FAA standards. 

“The runway numbers have to be within 10 degrees of the compass,” Jackson said. “I know it sounds like we just go out and repaint the runways. (But) you have to change all the signage.” 

All information that pilots use to get to and from the airport, as well as around the airport, has to be updated, Jackson said. 

“It normally happens about every 25 to 30 years,” Jackson said. “The northern hemisphere is continually moving and will continue to move long after we’re not here.” 

The capital budget also includes $1 million for property acquisition, if necessary. There are upgrades to the software for ID badges, estimated to cost about $200,000. 

This story has been updated since its original posting to reflect that the $913,000 will pay for utility improvements in the southwest section of the airport.