Re:Internet in Alaska (Score 1)

So fixated on the small details that you miss the big picture. So what if it didn't finally sell on Ebay. From what I understand, the listing generated one serious solicitation but the deal fell through over some of the finer details and the inquirer found a jet from another source. Was it below the initial purchase price? Yes. Does that really matter in the long term? No. The real important thing to look at isn't the capital gain or loss, but rather the decision's return on investment (ROI).

Did the private Jet include a pilot? It probably did, amounting to a cost of $100-200k/yr once you add up everything in the benefits package. How about Hanger Charges? $3-4k/month would sound about right depending on the sqft required. Maintenance contract? I have no idea what it was but a 5% rule of thumb for complex machinery wouldn't be surprising. That's $100k more per year. All this without the plane ever leaving the ground.

Someone on her staff ran the numbers and the cost of maintaining the plane versus the benefit it afforded just didn't add up. The capital loss from selling the plane easily made back before the end of your 4 year tenure. It was great decision for the Alaskan tax payer.