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Those who get airport security badges now must pay By JILL BRISKEY After the Sept. 11 attacks, federal regulators beefed up the screening process for airport access badges. A form of identification, an access badge allows a person to enter secure areas at the airport it was issued from. But local officials say the new, costly process that includes background and fingerprint checks is eating away at the Medford airport's budget. Coupled with rising security costs and low flight numbers, Jackson County commissioners on Wednesday agreed to recoup fees by charging $37 each to people who apply for badges. "It's not designed to make money. It's so we don't lose money," said Airport Director Bern Case. "If we don't have a fee to pay for a badge, it's going to show up someplace else." The Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport is a county-owned enterprise agency that is self-sufficient with its own budget. Prior to the terrorist attacks, the airport assumed the cost of making badges for individuals. But new regulations have raised the cost to $37.84. Case said approximately 1,000 badges have been issued at the Medford airport. A badge gives a person access to secure areas within and around the terminal, he added. Case said people with badges at Medford airport include airport employees, Mercy Flights crews, contractors and state police. A public hearing was held before commissioners adopted the fee. Medford resident Larry Redler wanted to know what airport officials would do if the federal government began paying for the screening procedure. He asked that commissioners include a sunset clause in the new ordinance. "Otherwise it becomes a hole where this money has gone, and there's no accountability," Redler said. "You've basically got twice the revenue for it." However, County Administrator Sue Slack said a yearly review process is already in place for all county ordinances that impose fees. She said commissioners could, in the future, decide to stop charging the fee if circumstances change. Commissioner Jack Walker agreed with the proposal after learning the fee would be reviewed regularly. Case said airports across the United States have different systems for issuing badges. Certified airlines also issue their own access badges to their employees. Currently, access badges won't allow a person access to airports other than their own. However, Case said if the airline industry becomes federalized, a universal badge system may be drafted. Case said the universal identification could be used to enter secure areas at all airports in the United States. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.