Base Closure - Cost to Operate the Field
Appendix 1

Updated 7/5/96

When it looked like the Navy would leave in 1991, NASA estimated that it would cost them $9-10M a year to run the airfield. Area politicians supported the plan to save $16M over what it cost the Navy to run the airfield. Sunnyvale and Mountain View city councils endorsed the plan to turn Moffett over to NASA, and it was done.

Then NASA said, no, sorry, the correct figure is $25-30M, and it will probably cost more to operate the airfield than it cost the Navy. The reason for the discrepancy was that the $9-10M figure was only to operate it Monday-Friday from dawn to dusk just for NASA's own use.

Now in 1996 the Mercury News reports that the current cost to operate Moffett Air Field (24 hours a day for all federal users) is $11M. At the July 1 Mountain View meeting, members of the public asked NASA to provide details of the air field's budget by benefitting agency, and by cost component, and NASA agreed to do so. This could help explain how much money may have to be spent at the airfield to support air cargo, and how much money could be saved by going back to NASA's original plan to close the airport in the middle of the night.

Source: San Jose Mercury News

HOPE, ANGUISH AND RELIEF
Saturday, April 13, 1991
By NICK ANDERSON, Mercury News Staff Writer
NASA estimates $9-10M operating cost
Congressman Tom Campbell endorses cost saving transfer to NASA.

NASA TAKEOVER OF MOFFETT FIELD ENDORSED BY
SUNNYVALE, MTN. VIEW
Wednesday, April 17, 1991
By LELAND JOACHIM, Mercury News Staff Writer

RUNNING MOFFETT WOULD COST NASA MILLIONS
'THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE MUCH OF A NET SAVINGS
TO THE GOVERNMENT,' SAYS AGENCY OFFICIAL
Wednesday, May 29, 1991
By DAVID BANK, Mercury News Staff Writer
NASA's early estimate that it could operate the airfield for as little as $9 million per year covered only dawn-to-dusk, Monday-to-Friday operation for NASA's use only.
Alliance joins fray at Moffett
-- Cargo planes opposed: Other alternatives sought to stem noise, pollution.
Friday, July 5, 1996 - By Tini Tran