I believe the key word missing from that sentence is operating as in its " operating budget" is around $50 million annually. They do spend above and beyond that in capital improvements. And the budget they voted on this evening was a doosy. In the usual 4/5 split they voted to among other things cut their operating expenses by building a putt-putt golf course at Lupient Waterpark for $100,000. The theory is that a one time building outlay of $100,000 will earn them $80,000 a year and in a little over a year it will be and income stream. I have a friend that always jokes about the "dad" factor in the time her father claims it takes to drive anywhere, meaning take his time and add 20 minutes and you get the real time the drive takes. The MPRB has it's own factor (per me). Every project seems to take 3 times the dollars to build and brings in less than 1/2 the income stream estimated so here's the math $100,000 x 3 = $300,000. $80,000/2 = $40,000 so it will take 300,000/40,000= 7.5 years just to break even. This is why projects like the Neiman complex are taking from the operating budget to the tune of $75,000 a year and NOT providing any income.
Next week the MPRB is going to vote on the next superintendent for our wonderful park system. After having heard the interviews of both candidates on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings I am sure that unless the people of Minneapolis call our commissioners and tell them we have had enough and will be casting our votes in 2005 based on their votes next week we will be stuck once again with bad budgeting and bad choices being made by the MPRB based on proposals made by a man who should never have had this job in the first place. Cristofer Gears would have my vote. He not only answered the questions asked (all parts) but added some insight into how many problems could have been avoided or headed off before they had a chance to divide the board and infuriate (my word) the public at large. Mr. Gears is, to use gaming terms many of the REC guys on the board might understand, a team player with a great offensive strategy and a good defense. He has the skills and talents for the job and will bring in the wins for our side.
Liz Wielinski Columbia Park
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