The Jacksonville Airport Authority decided this week to spend $300,000 to sponsor the 2005 Super Bowl, joining city-owned utility JEA and other public organizations sponsoring the event.

Approval of the deal came one month after the JAA reported a $1.4 million revenue shortfall for its current fiscal year, and a month after Jacksonville International Airport raised its daily parking rates citing financial problems.

But the JAA board said the decision to sponsor the Super Bowl was a good one.

Board member Ron Weaver said the parking rate increase was needed mostly to pay for additional security costs and had nothing to do with the sponsorship deal.

“You have to spend money to make money,” he said. “The Super Bowl will benefit all four [Jacksonville] airports.”