Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano Gets 7 Percent Raise to $508,830, Plus Bonus

TAMPA — The airport he runs continues to put up record numbers for passengers and revenues, so on Thursday Tampa International Airport chief executive officer Joe Lopano was rewarded with a 7 percent raise that brings his salary to $508,830 a year.

The board of the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority also voted to give Lopano, 64, a bonus of $118,885. The raise is bigger than the 5 percent that Lopano received last year, but the bonus is smaller than the $150,000 bump he received in 2018.

Aviation Authority board members gave Lopano near-perfect scores in an annual evaluation, averaging 4.97 on a 5-point scale over 14 different measures of his job performance, and said he had turbo-charged the airport's success in his 8½ years on the job.

"It's just hard to imagine this being much better, and it comes with Joe's leadership," said board member Gary Harrod, who made the motion for the raise and bonus. "I don't believe that Joe can be replaced."

Since Lopano became the airport's CEO on Jan. 1, 2011, Tampa International has seen its:

• Passenger count rise more than 40 percent from 16.6 million a year to a projected 22.3 million this year.

• Operating revenues grow more than 63 percent from $163.7 million to a projected $267.7 million this year.

• Funds available after expenses for capital and reserves grow from $18.2 million to a projected $58.9 million this year.

Lopano supervises a staff of 690 employees. The airport's biggest sources of operating funds are parking and ground transportation ($77.4 million this year), followed by revenues from airlines ($73.6 million) and rental car revenue ($43.5 million). The airport does not receive any local property tax revenue, but it does expect to receive about $20 million next year in federal and state grants for capital improvements.

The motion to raise Lopano's salary passed 3-0, with the board's two elected officials, Hilllsborough County Commissioner Les Miller Jr. and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who was across town presenting her proposed city budget to the City Council, being absent.

"On every parameter, we've seen major increases in results since you came, Joe," board chairman Robert Watkins told Lopano before the vote. "That doesn't really come about without solid, effective leadership. ... Fabulous job. You deserve all the accolades you've been given."

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Check back at tampabay.com for updates to this developing story. Contact Richard Danielson at [email protected] or (727) 226-3403. Follow @Danielson_Times

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