St. George is asking Utah lawmakers to kick in $20 million toward a roughly $100 million expansion of St. George Regional Airport, a fast-growing southern Utah gateway that city leaders say is straining under a sharp jump in passengers. The upgrade is pitched as a way to ease crowding and make the airport more appealing to additional commercial airlines.
What officials are asking for
On Wednesday, city officials laid out their request to the Transportation and Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee, asking legislators to cover a $20 million slice of the terminal project. The plan would more than double the airport’s current 35,000-square-foot terminal, add four second-floor gates, and widen out the baggage, ticketing, and security areas, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
Passenger surge and revenue math
Airport leaders told lawmakers that passenger counts have taken off. St. George Regional handled 431,607 passengers in 2025, a roughly 35% jump from the year before, and staff are forecasting between about 474,000 and 538,000 travelers in 2026. A presentation to the committee pegs the terminal project at about $100 million and estimates airport-generated tax receipts at nearly $23 million this year, with roughly $5.8 million flowing to the state in 2026. Those projections climb to nearly $46 million in revenues by 2035, with an estimated $6.8 million share to the state, according to the packet provided to lawmakers by the Utah Legislature.
Where the airport sits
St. George Regional Airport is located at 4550 S Airport Parkway in southern Washington County. The city’s airport webpage tracks construction updates, project notes, current services, and contact information for travelers and tenants who are trying to follow the expansion timeline and other improvements, according to the City of St. George.
Control tower progress and safety case
The terminal expansion request comes as another major project is already underway. The city broke ground last August on an 80-foot air-traffic control tower that officials expect to be certified and staffed by 2027. The tower is intended to let local controllers manage flights rather than relying on remote FAA facilities in Los Angeles. City and state officials have framed it as both a safety upgrade and a way to boost capacity by better separating general aviation from growing commercial traffic. The Legislature set aside $15 million for the tower last year, and the construction timeline and expected regional benefits were detailed by KUER.
Money, politics and the pitch to lawmakers
To sell the new terminal, city leaders told the committee they are ready to commit $25 million in local funds. The remaining money, they said, would be pieced together from federal grants, transient room taxes in Washington County, and a contribution from SkyWest. Legislators on the panel were split. Rep. Calvin Roberts argued that the broader sales and lodging-tax boost tied to the airport strengthens the case for state support, while Sen. Kathleen Riebe voiced concerns about using state dollars on airport construction. Those reactions, along with the city’s funding breakdown, were reported by The Salt Lake Tribune.
What comes next
The $20 million request now sits with the Transportation and Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee as lawmakers debate how big a role the state should play in the airport’s expansion. Upcoming agendas, archived presentations, and future hearings of the Transportation and Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee will determine whether a one-time appropriation moves forward.
