North Michigan News

Senator John Damoose and Representative Betsy Coffia have introduced legislation aimed at allowing the Northwest Regional Airport Authority, which oversees Cherry Capital Airport, and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority to expand contributions to their employees' medical benefit plans. This legislative effort is a reintroduction of Coffia’s House Bill 4618 from 2023.

Coffia stated, "This legislation will level the playing field by allowing these final two regional airport authorities to be able to voluntarily enhance their employee medical benefit plans, as all other regional airport authorities already have the ability to do." She expressed gratitude towards Sen. Damoose for partnering on this initiative and acknowledged the Northwest Regional Airport Authority for highlighting this issue.

Damoose emphasized that this change would support employees and bolster regional economies. "Passing this legislation will help our regional economies flourish and improve the quality of life for our residents," he said. "By doing so, we are supporting our regional airport authorities’ efforts to attract and retain talent as a means of alleviating staffing shortages while supporting employees’ basic needs."

Currently, other regional airport authorities in Michigan have the capacity to make such changes. However, the Northwest Regional and Gerald R. Ford International authorities were restricted due to being established under a different chapter of the state Aeronautics Code. The proposed legislation seeks to correct this oversight by allowing all regional airport authorities, with board consent, to opt-out of contribution limits on employee medical benefits plans.

Kevin Klein, CEO of Cherry Capital Airport and Legislative Chair of the Michigan Association of Airport Executives, commented on the potential impact: “Cherry Capital Airport is the state’s third largest airport with a dedicated and passionate team of employees as the driving force of daily operations,” Klein said. “This legislation would be a tremendous asset in allowing us to retain our hardworking employees and remain competitive in a growing market.”

Supporters of this legislative proposal include several key stakeholders: Northwest Regional Airport Authority/Cherry Capital Airport, Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, Michigan Association of Airport Executives, Teamsters 214, along with various units from United Auto Workers, Fraternal Order of Police, and Command Officers Association of Michigan.