SUGAR LAND, Texas (FOX 26) -
The federal cuts, mandated by sequestration, will mean layoffs for air traffic controllers who watch over the Sugar Land Regional Airport.
The City of Sugar Land was told a week ago that it would lose the $600,000, from the Federal Aviation Administration, to pay for the tower staff.
Those air traffic controllers watch over 250 flights in and out of the airport each day.
Since much of Sugar Land's economic growth is attributed to easy access for corporate air travel, the City says it can't afford to go without the tower and would have to find the money someplace else.
"The airport would have to identify that money through it's own budget. Some hard decisions would have to be made, but $600,000 is a huge hit," says City of Sugar Land spokesman Doug Adolph. He adds that the City of Sugar Land has 30 days to find new funding before the federal money disappears.
In all, 19 airports in Texas will lose air traffic controllers, including the Lone Star Executive Airport, in Conroe.
