Orange County Register, Metro Section August 27, 1997
From the Register web site at http://www.ocregister.com

EDITORIAL
Flying high at El Toro

Cost overruns are such a familiar occurrence in public-works projects that there might be a temptation to shrug and turn the page upon reading about a 43 percent overrun in the planning expenses for the proposed airport at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

But at least one airport skeptic on the five-member Board of Supervisors didn't treat the issue as a ho-hummer at Tuesday's board meeting. Supervisor Todd Spitzer branded as "outrageous" the statement by assistant county CEO Courtney C. Wiercioch, who is program manager for El Toro reuse, that her "inexperience" is to blame for the $6 million in excess costs. The overrun has raised overall planning expenses to more than $20 million.

"This is evidence that the county is out of its league," Mr. Spitzer told us. "We can't afford a bureaucratic novice planning an international airport when people's lives are hanging in the balance."

Those are strong words; indeed, perhaps it might have been more accurate to say that people's checkbooks are most immediately in the balance, because under the current arrangement, taxpayers have to foot the bill for the planning costs one way or another.

To be sure, planning is one area where there should be no skimping. The forest of questions about an airport's feasibility have to be answered, thoroughly and honestly. But there's a big difference between stinting and lack of competence in budget forecasting.

When the county is wildly inaccurate in projections about planning costs, the credibility of the larger planning process itself is undermined, because all predictions or projections are likely to be greeted with greater suspicion in many quarters. In this sense, even strong airport backers should be impatient and irritated with the county's underestimating of planning costs.

There was laser-like accuracy in at least one critique by Mr. Spitzer: He asked whether the private sector ever has offered to help cover planning costs. No, came the reply from Ms. Wiercioch.

The supervisor has tapped into a nagging concern of ours. The failure of any commercial airline to take a vocal, up-front role in making the case for an airport has been noted by critics of the plan, who ask whether the market need is there.

If there is a business demand, then why not insist that business participants -- for instance, airlines that would use the airport -- help cover planning and infrastructure expenses? As things stand, public funds are being tapped exclusively. Yesterday, the board voted 3-2, with Mr. Spitzer and Supervisor Tom Wilson dissenting, to cover the cost overruns with money from John Wayne airport and, down the line, possibly some federal sources that might or might not become available during the reuse process.

A more market-oriented approach would give taxpayers a smoother flight.Pie in the sky