Tacoma officials have not disclosed many details regarding the parties’ identities or the deals on the table. Tacoma City Manager Eric Anderson said they hope to end the negotiations by the end of the quarter (June 30), or next quarter.

The facility, which is more than four decades old, has been losing money. Some reports said figures from a year ago showed a two-year deficit of $550,000.

Last year, Pierce County offered to buy the airport for $3 million and assume responsibility for an additional $1 million worth of safety zone costs. A study published last fall as part of Pierce County’s due diligence estimated the value of the 644-acre property, which is located in an unincorporated area, at $20 million.

Pierce County currently owns and operates Thun Field in Puyallup. That airport is managed in-house, through the Public Works department. When Tacoma city officials said they may have to shut down the airport due to the ongoing operating losses, the county felt it could operate it more efficiently internally instead of paying a contractor. The airport also generates taxes for the county. Tacoma officials had also approached the city of Gig Harbor about a purchase, but according to the Gig Harbor city administrator at the time, once they heard about the debt and the operating losses, they “didn’t pursue it for another minute.”

Pierce County Councilman Terry Lee, who represents the district that includes Gig Harbor, said when he originally approached Tacoma with the offer to take over the airport, Tacoma officials said they wanted $3.5 million to pay off the debt and for the county to take over the safety zone. While the council has committed only $3 million toward the pay-off, he said he may be able to get the council to approve the additional half-million dollars. But beyond that amount, he said “the other councilmen have trouble paying for something that hasn’t made money.”

But the county isn’t necessarily out of the picture yet. “I don’t think it’s a dead issue until the lease is signed with the private party,” Lee said.

The property, which is largely undeveloped, is well-suited for recreational use. Neighbors have been concerned about the possibility of a runway expansion, and Lee said if the county, instead of a private entity, owned the property, it would be more likely to preserve the open space and keep the facility from expanding. Lee has been in discussions with the local park district, Peninsula Metro Parks, regarding a collective deal. He said the park district may be willing to go to the voters for a bond to get additional funding for the purchase. He planned to approach Tacoma officials to see if they would be willing to wait for an election outcome.

Anderson said he couldn’t comment on such a possibility but confirmed the door is not completely closed on further talks. “We have not concluded negotiations with Pierce County but we’re not currently in discussions (with the county),” he said.

Lee, however, acknowledged chances are slim for Tacoma to be willing to contemplate the new county proposal. “Sounds like (negotiations) are moving along pretty quickly,” he said. “Whether they would stop the wheels in motion to see if there is voter support — it’s doubtful to me.”.