South Bay : LEGISLATION FILED

Inglewood officials are demanding that the Department of Airports resume collecting a $3 passenger tax so that homes surrounding Los International Airport can be soundproofed.

Assemblyman Curtis Tucker (D-Inglewood) announced Tuesday that he introduced legislation to force the Department of Airports to resume collection of the fee which he says generated $5 million per month. The money collected was to be used for soundproofing, transportation and other airport improvement projects. The Department of Airports stopped collecting the Passenger Facility Charge on Jan. 1 because a deadline to use the funds was approaching and significant other changes developed at the airport, said Nancy Castles, spokeswoman for the Department of Airports. In the 2 1/2 years the tax was collected, it generated $168 million in revenue for projects at Los Angeles and Ontario airports.