Excellent guest editorial in The Gazette this morning by the owners of St. Andrew's Golf Course, recommending the city privatize its four municipal courses.
They point out that in 43 years, they've never had a year when they finished in the red, despite the need to pay property taxes, which the city courses do not do. Meanwhile, the city courses averaged a $250K annual loss for the past decade.
Biggest problem, IMHO, is top-heavy management and just too damned many employees. The article doesn't mention unions, but that's a factor, I think.
BTW, the city is reacting to the problem in a pretty predictable way: It's hired an outside consulting firm to study and make recommendations.
They point out that in 43 years, they've never had a year when they finished in the red, despite the need to pay property taxes, which the city courses do not do. Meanwhile, the city courses averaged a $250K annual loss for the past decade.
Biggest problem, IMHO, is top-heavy management and just too damned many employees. The article doesn't mention unions, but that's a factor, I think.
BTW, the city is reacting to the problem in a pretty predictable way: It's hired an outside consulting firm to study and make recommendations.
