Golf Woes

A local golfer has suggested that the City of Great Falls issue general obligation bonds to fund the recent remodeling work at the City golf courses. You will recall that these "debts helped push city golf operations into the red in recent years."

I guess I don't have a huge problem with such a proposal. Since they are, in fact, our assets, we have to maintain them. We cannot default on the debt, and the work is done.

Here's my problem, though. Before I will vote for a bond issue, I need to be convinced that "management" at the city has analyzed the problems and has adopted a comprehensive plan to address the problem. I will need to be convinced that such a plan is reasonable and, most important, is being realistically implemented. Finally, heads gotta roll. Someone needs to be held accountable for this mess, and I don't mean a month's probation, or pointing fingers at people who have since left. The people who were supposed to be minding the store out at the courses need to be gone, now. For good. No offense, but they can work in the private sector.

What I will not support, and what will tank such a proposal, is the typical city approach: "Well, we have a significant management problem, so we'll pass some bond issues to let the taxpayers pay for bad decisions in the past. Tomorrow's a new day, and everyone gets a raise."

Bullsh*t.

It sounds, too, like at least one Commissioner has a basic understanding of demand elasticity, although not in so many words. " 'We've got competition,' said Jovick-Kuntz, adding the city should not price itself out of the market." The fact is that a significant percentage of our regular golfers are cantakerous old guys. If we keep raising the rates, they'll stop golfing at the City courses. If that happens, revenue will continue to tank. I have an idea, try slashing the rates by 20% or more. Do it conditionally, then compare the revenue through July '06 with the corresponding period from last year. If it's up, leave rates down. If not, then raise them